I explore the changing institutions of leisure and their dynamic relationship with the evolution of the world leisure industries through an analytical framework that incorporates the theory of institutional change of Paul Dale Bush and related evidence worldwide. I find a ceremonial-instrumental dichotomy in terms of the forces that enter the different phases of institutional change and the receptivity of the markets. Since the mid-twentieth century, the world leisure industries have rapidly advanced because they are not only interactively promoted by an increasing number of mass leisure institutions, but also due to technological advancements and industrial innovations. Indeed, the development paths of these industries in different countries are influenced by institutional factors, such as public interests, culture, and education, and their interactions and changes over time. Given that the paths may not be so straightforward, my findings show that Bush’s related works provide a synthetic framework which deserves further examination in the economics of leisure.