“It's like all of my senses and my body become more awakened”: Autistic adults' experiences of attending live music

Background: Up to 94% of Autistic people have sensory responsivity differences, associated with experiences that can range from being distressing to highly pleasurable. Despite the importance of live music in fostering social inclusion, many venues and events are not inclusive, creating barriers for Autistic people. Given the challenges Autistic people face in accessing live music events, our study aimed to explore their experiences to improve inclusivity, using a critical realism epistemological approach.Methods: We conducted a qualitative study with 16 Autistic adults aged 21–52 through online focus groups (n = 13), individual interviews (n = 1), and email exchanges (n = 2), allowing for spoken or typed communication. Each focus group lasted one hour, and we analysed the data using reflexive thematic analysis, following good practice guidelines.Results: We developed four main themes and two subthemes: 1) “This is a military operation” – Planning to manage uncertainty and overwhelm; 2) “Hating a crowd and loving a crowd at the same time” – Social connection within crowds; 3) The duality of an intense sensory environment; 3a) “The music, the vibrations bring out the colours… in my mind” – Immersive sensory joy; 3b) “My brain is screaming at me” – Sensory overload; 4) “I think the biggest difference, always, is the staff” – Combating stigma and creating safe spaces.Conclusions: Our study highlights the positive and negative aspects of attending live music for Autistic people, offering actionable recommendations for inclusivity. Key suggestions include providing advance information, ear plugs/quiet spaces, minimising crowd exposure, and ensuring staff are trained to support Autistic attendees. These measures can help create accessible, enjoyable live music experiences, fostering social connections and reducing isolation for Autistic people.