Detty December is back, and this year, tickets for homecoming concerts are reaching unprecedented heights. Unlike mid-year shows often sponsored and affordable, the holiday lineup for top Afrobeats stars now comes with steep price tags.

Ticket prices this season include:

• Asake – ₦300,000 (Dec 24)
• Rema – ₦250,000 (Dec 21)
• Davido – ₦250,000 (Dec 25)
• Olamide – ₦120,000 (Dec 23)
• Flavour – ₦120,000 (Dec 22)

The surge has sparked debates online. Industry experts explain that higher prices reflect the growing scale of concerts, with international-level production, big screens, advanced lighting, tighter security, and elaborate stage designs. Pandemic-era restrictions and rising logistics costs have also forced promoters to rethink traditional “Regular/VIP/Table” models, making events feel more like premium cultural experiences than grassroots parties of the 2010s.

Industry reactions:

• Obi Asika, NCAC Director General, defended the pricing as promoter-driven, emphasizing the need for more mass-market shows.
• Michael Odiong, CEO of Premier Records, noted that production costs justify the hike but suggested artists consider affordable tiers or live-stream options to avoid excluding low-income fans.
• Eseijie Emma, manager to DJ Bella, criticized the pricing as disconnected from average Nigerians’ purchasing power, warning that entertainment risks becoming exclusionary rather than inclusive.

Fans are now debating whether premium experiences are worth the cost or if Afrobeats has outgrown its local audience, as the traditional inclusive spirit of Detty December gives way to high-end exclusivity.