Waited til the last minute to buy Christmas gifts… again? We’re with you. If you have a chronic concert-goer or passionate music lover in your life, you may be wondering what to get them this late in the game. After all, every music lover already has a Bluetooth speaker, so you probably need some other ideas. Don’t stress, we’ve got some gift suggestions that you can pull together right before the big day.
1. High-quality earplugs
The best way to show you love someone is by protecting them, right? With the gift of earplugs, you’ll be protecting their ears at all the shows they’re constantly attending. But you don’t just want any earplugs; cheap drugstore plugs can muffle sound and ruin the live music experience. Look for something higher in quality.
We love our Loop earplugs (we have the Loop Experience 2, which are specifically designed for concerts). Loop earplugs won’t muffle the music or take away from the listening experience. They’re also comfortable and fit snugly in your ears, so you can wear them for hours on end without issue. The Loop Experience 2 comes in more than five colors, so you’re sure to find something that matches your loved one’s style.
No ringing ears after a show? No long-term hearing damage? Sounds like a great gift to us.
Add-on option: Loop also offers gift sets — if the person you’re buying for needs earplugs for more than just concerts (to sleep or for work, for example), this is a great option. Or if you want to add accessories, the Tomorrowland Festival Gift Set comes with a Loop Link and extra ear tips.
2. Band merch
We all have that one friend whose daily uniform is Converse and a band tee. Support their passion and their style by gifting them merch from their favorite band (or a gift card to their favorite band’s merch store, if available).
This isn’t limited to just t-shirts, either; opt for a beanie, sweatpants, a tote bag, a scarf, a flag, or even a leash for their dog. Many bands have gotten creative with their merch over the last few years, so the options are truly endless. Usually, bands ship their merch with free stickers or postcards, too. And in the era of streaming, buying merch is also the best way to support bands, so it’s a win for everyone.
Alternative option: If you’re not sure exactly who their favorite artist is, you can play it safe and get some apparel that’s music-adjacent. For example, if they love Warped Tour, get them a pair of Vans shoes or a t-shirt.
3. Vinyl subscription box
If you’re shopping for someone who just can’t get enough of their record player, a vinyl subscription box is the perfect gift. Most vinyl subscription services offer monthly curated records along with collectible vinyl artwork. This is a great way to add music to their collection while also allowing them to experiment and discover their soon-to-be favorite artists. Plus, this doesn’t have to be shipped, so you can truly order right before it has to be under the Christmas tree.
We like this subscription from vnyl because it gives you the option to connect to Spotify or another streaming service for smarter picks within your loved one’s preferred genres. There are plenty of other subscription plans out there, though, so you’re sure to find something they’ll like.
If you’re not looking to spring for a full subscription, grab a deluxe vinyl from their favorite artist to add to their collection. You can shop for all kinds of vinyls at Rare Vinyl, including new arrivals, rare vinyls, and affordable records under a certain price point.
Add-on option: If you’re getting them one of these, toss in a vinyl cleaning kit for good measure. After all, record lovers need a way to protect them and keep them clean! Whether you want some sleeves, a cleaning kit, or a display stand, you can find it at Big Fudge Vinyl.
4. A fanny pack
Whether they’re heading to an arena show with bag restrictions or a basement venue where they don’t want to carry anything bulky, a fanny pack is a great solution. It fits all the essentials: phone, wallet, keys, earplugs, and maybe even some hand sanitizer and tissues just in case (any guesses as to what’s in our fanny packs?).
No one wants to stand around at a show with a backpack or bulky bag. Especially if it’s standing room only, they’ll want something small that stays tight to their frame. A fanny pack is easy to keep track of at all times, even if your loved one is planning on getting in that mosh pit.
We love our lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag for exactly this reason. There are several mesh compartments inside so your stuff stays organized even in the small bag, and we barely notice it’s there when we’re jumping around at shows. But of course, there are plenty of other fanny packs available.
Add-on option: For such a small bag, they’ll need an equally small wallet. We like the lululemon Dual Pouch Wristlet because it comes with an ultra-thin card pouch and a little coin purse that’ll fit perfectly.
5. A ticket stub diary
If the music lover in your life is sentimental, a ticket stub diary is a great way for them to keep all their concert memories in one place. They can place tickets, stickers, photos, and autographs in the diary and write down any little anecdotes or other details they want to remember about the show. It’s like a scrapbook, but specifically for concerts and festivals (or any other ticketed events).
We like the Just the Ticket: Ticket Stub Organizer for its simple design with space for both words and tickets/photos. The base book holds up to 80 tickets, but you can also purchase standard refill pages for it so they’ll never run out of space.
Alternative option: If your loved one isn’t much of a writer or scrapbooker, opt for a ticket shadowbox instead. All they have to do with a shadowbox is drop their ticket in and it makes for a perfect display. There are plenty of concert-themed shadowboxes available on Etsy.
6. A gift card to their local venue
Supporting local is always a good move for the holidays. If you know the person you’re shopping for frequents a specific place in their town, check with the local box office to see if they offer any gift cards or deals — for example, a ticket package or a drink package.
If you can’t find anything local, you could also get them a Ticketmaster gift card so they have access to almost any concert (or other event) their heart desires. You could always go the physical gift card route if you have time, but if it’s Christmas Eve and you’re scrambling, an e-gift card might be the way to go.
Alternative option: If you know their schedule and their favorite artist, you may as well go the extra mile and gift them two concert tickets to see their favorite musician live! There are plenty of huge (and smaller indie) artists touring in 2026 that your loved one would be stoked to see.
7. A book by (or about) their favorite artist
More and more artists are becoming authors these days — whether it’s a memoir, a collection of interviews, or even a history book, this is something your loved one will eat right up. A book related to music is a great way to help them experience this art form, and the artists themselves, in a different context.
Popular memoirs that came out fairly recently include The Woman In Me by Britney Spears and Me by Elton John. If you’re going the interview route, Where Are Your Boys Tonight? by Chris Payne compiles over 300 hours of interviews into an exploration of the oral history of the emo genre. If your loved one is more of a history nerd, The Rest Is Noise by Alex Ross recounts the history of American and European music throughout the 20th century.
Add-on option: This gift is perfect for a bookworm’s gift package — add on any reading accessories, such as a book light or even a cozy throw blanket.
8. A power bank
If your loved one’s phone is chronically dead or dying, this is a great gift — especially if they love going to shows and festivals. A small power bank can fit right into their fanny pack or purse and can keep their phone going all day or even longer.
It’s important that their power bank be reliable and pack a powerful punch (pun intended), even if it’s small. This one from Anker is slim and provides ultra-fast charging. And the best part? It’s wireless, so if they forget the charging cord, it’s no big deal. It holds 10,000mAH of power, meaning it can charge the iPhone 17 to 100% battery 1.78 times before the power bank itself needs a recharge.
Alternative option: You can also find charging cases for phones from brands like Mophie or Casely. If your loved one is forgetful or can’t even fit a slim extra in their bag, these cases are a perfect two-in-one solution.
9. Perfume by their favorite artist
So many musicians are getting into the fragrance game these days, and you can take advantage of this for a unique holiday gift. In fact, pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter just unveiled the newest fragrance in her Fragrance by Sabrina line: Sweet Tooth Lemon Pie.
Ariana Grande also has an award-winning fragrance line, including classics like God Is A Woman and Ari by Ariana Grande. Her latest release is a limited-edition Wicked: For Good line, which is available at Ulta Beauty stores.
Fragrances don’t have to just be for women, though — Shawn Mendes has released a unisex Signature Perfume, and Lenny Kravitz worked with Yves Saint Laurent to release Y Eau de Toilette.
Alternative option: There are also plenty of musicians who have made the jump into fashion and makeup through different collaborations. Consider getting your loved one some makeup from Selena Gomez‘s vegan and cruelty-free Rare Beauty collection, or get them a pair of sunglasses from the Rolling Stones and Revo collab.
10. A music trivia game
We all have that family member who’s wildly competitive, so get yours something they can actually win at: a music trivia game. The one you choose will depend on their preferences, but there are plenty available.
Q The Music is a game where you can scan a QR code to play 30 seconds of a song and then answer trivia questions about the artist or the lyrics, and it comes in different editions. The nostalgic music lover will enjoy the MTV Music Throwback Party Quiz, while the James Corden fan will love the Carpool Karaoke game. No matter which game you pick, it’s sure to make for an exciting evening.
Add-on option: If you want to butter them up a bit, play to their competitive side even more with a snarky mug they can drink out of while playing the game. This Tears of the People I Beat at Game Night mug is the perfect game night companion.
