Ticketmaster resale tickets: how buying and selling works in the UK

Ticketmaster resale tickets are tickets that other fans sell through Ticketmaster UK’s own fan-to-fan service, the Ticket Exchange. Sellers cannot list above the price they paid, every listing is checked, and you buy from the same seat map as a new ticket. Each event’s organiser decides whether resale is switched on.

Looking for a show first? The concerts page lists UK tours and dates. For every resale route in the country, not only Ticketmaster, see resale tickets in the UK.

What is Ticketmaster resale, and how does it work?

Ticketmaster resale is a fan-to-fan service: someone who bought a ticket but cannot go sells it to you on the Ticketmaster website or app. Ticketmaster calls the service the Ticket Exchange, and listings carry a Verified Resale label.

A primary ticket is a new ticket, sold for the first time on behalf of the organiser. A resale ticket has already been bought once. Ticketmaster UK Limited says resale tickets belong to the seller, not to Ticketmaster. It runs the sale and delivery, while your contract is with the seller.

Ticketmaster says each resale ticket is verified, so the seat you buy is the seat you get. Resale only appears if the event organiser or artist has switched it on, and theatre shows are left out.

You need a Ticketmaster account, and you must be at least 18 to buy or sell through the Ticket Exchange. The rules sit in a separate document, the Ticket Exchange Policy, and English law applies.

How is a resale ticket different from a normal ticket?

A Ticketmaster resale ticket gets you into the same event as a normal ticket, but the seller, the payment options and the refund rules differ.

A resale listing does not mean the show has sold out. Ticketmaster’s policy says new tickets may still be on sale for the same event, so look for those first.

Is there a price cap on Ticketmaster resale tickets?

Yes, Ticketmaster resale has a price cap. Its Ticket Exchange Policy says sellers may not list tickets bought from Ticketmaster above the price they paid. They can choose that price or a lower one.

Face value is the price of the ticket itself, before any charges. You can still pay more than face value on resale, for two plain reasons:

• The seller’s price may include the per-ticket service charge they paid when they first bought.
• Ticketmaster’s policy lists any per-ticket service charge on top of the sale price.

Ticketmaster says it always shows the face value during checkout. Compare that figure with your total before you pay.

The cap is Ticketmaster’s own rule, not the law. The government announced a plan to cap resale prices on 19 November 2025, and as of 31 October 2026 it had not become law. What the law does ask for, in section 90 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, is that a resale listing shows the seat, any restriction and the face value.

How do you buy Ticketmaster resale tickets?

You buy Ticketmaster resale tickets on the event page, using the same seat map as new tickets, and Ticketmaster says the process is exactly the same. Follow these steps in order:

1. Log in and find your event.
2. Look for the pink dots. Resale seats show as pink dots on the seat map. Standing tickets, also called General Admission, show as Best Available instead.
3. Read the listing. Ticketmaster’s policy asks you to read the full description before you buy.
4. Check the number of seats. The map shows every seat listed, even if some have sold.
5. Compare the total with the face value at checkout.
6. Pay by card. Ticketmaster takes Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Amex for resale. It does not take PayPal, Klarna or Ticketmaster Gift Cards.
7. Look for your order confirmation. If none arrives, check your Ticketmaster account before you try again.

Nothing suitable? Ticketmaster suggests trying closer to the event, because more tickets may appear.

A standing ticket may read Row GA0, Seats 1 and 2. Ticketmaster’s system needs a number, and unless the event has several standing sections, it does not usually mean a particular spot.

When do Ticketmaster resale tickets arrive?

Ticketmaster resale tickets often go straight into your Ticketmaster account, and Ticketmaster tells you the delivery method a few days after you buy. If you buy close to the event or on the day, allow up to an hour for your order to be processed.

• Posted tickets: if a ticket cannot be reissued, the seller posts it to you. Ticketmaster passes on the Royal Mail tracking number.
• Bought late: if you see nothing an hour before the event, contact Ticketmaster’s Fan Support team.
• Bought early: contact Ticketmaster if your tickets have not come by 5 days before the event.
• Coming from abroad? Delivery may take longer. Ticketmaster says to allow until five days before you leave for the UK before you contact Fan Support.

Check your tickets as soon as they arrive. Ticketmaster may not be able to help with an obvious mistake that you report more than 5 days later.

Seeing someone else’s name? Ticketmaster tries to reissue resale tickets in your name, but some cannot be reprinted. Those show the first buyer’s name. Ticketmaster says you can still get in, because it tells the venue the tickets were sold to you.

Can you get a refund on Ticketmaster resale tickets?

You cannot get a refund on Ticketmaster resale tickets just because your plans change, as resale purchases are final. A refund is possible when the event itself changes. This table sets out what Ticketmaster’s Ticket Exchange Policy says:

Your refund returns to the card you used. For some events, Ticketmaster also offers Missed Event Insurance from another company, which has its own terms.

Ticketmaster says it acknowledges a complaint within five business days. If a dispute is not settled within 28 days, either side can try mediation through the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), the UK ticketing trade body.

How do you sell tickets on Ticketmaster?

You sell tickets on Ticketmaster from your own account, using the Sell button next to your order. No Sell button means those tickets cannot be sold there. Listing is free, and a service fee comes off the selling price once they sell.

1. Sign in to your Ticketmaster account and open your order in My Tickets.
2. Select Sell, then pick the tickets you want to sell.
3. Choose your price, no higher than you paid, and how you want to be paid. Your Seller Details in My Profile must be complete.
4. Review the listing. The preview shows the service fee and what you will receive.

Your tickets stay on sale until the event’s resale deadline, which is typically door time. To change a listing, cancel it and list again. If you want to sell at once, an instant offer may appear while you list, or later.

Which tickets cannot be sold on Ticketmaster?

• tickets for events where the organiser or artist has not switched on resale
• theatre shows, Ticketmaster Theatre orders and Ticketweb orders
• tickets you bought through resale
• tickets you received through a transfer
• orders with add-ons, such as car park or early entry passes
• festival tickets on a payment plan or deposit scheme
• tickets collected from a box office, or bought by phone or through a group booking

When do you get paid for tickets you sell?

Ticketmaster’s selling page says you typically get paid within 17 business days of your ticket selling, by PayPal or bank transfer. For festivals, it says payment is typically issued within 7 business days after the event. Its Ticket Exchange Policy gives a different timing, usually within 10 business days of the event, so keep an eye on your account.

Just giving a ticket to a friend? Ticket Transfer sends it to someone you know, aged at least 14, where the organiser allows it. Once they accept, they hold a new ticket with a new barcode, and yours stops working.

What do AXS and See Tickets offer instead?

AXS and See Tickets each run their own capped resale service, for tickets first sold through them. Ticketmaster tickets can only be resold on Ticketmaster, so the right service depends on where the ticket was first bought.

The O2 describes AXS Official Resale as “a capped, official, fan fair resale platform”. The See Tickets terms add the 10% fee on top of the listing price, and its help pages say sellers are paid five days after the event. Some See Tickets partner sites use their own terms, so read the fee on your event’s page.

How do you get Ticketmaster presale tickets?

You get Ticketmaster presale tickets by signing up before the sale, usually on the artist’s sign-up page or through a fan club. A presale lets a smaller group buy first. The general sale, when anyone can buy, comes next, and resale comes after both.

• Artist presale: sign up on the artist’s page and tick the shows you want. Ticketmaster emails a link the day before. You need no code, because your access is tied to your account.
• Fan club presale: the club sends a code. Codes are case sensitive, so type them exactly.
• Album or merchandise presale: you qualify by ordering from the artist’s or label’s store, and the label usually sends any code.

A sign-up or code gets you into the presale, but it does not promise you a ticket. The full method is in how to get Ticketmaster presale tickets, and gig tickets compares presales for bigger shows.

What mistakes should you avoid with Ticketmaster resale?

The first mistake to avoid with Ticketmaster resale is buying before you have checked for new tickets at the same event. Watch for these too:

• Buying before your plans are firm. A resale ticket is final, and you cannot list it again.
• Typing the wrong email or address. You lose the right to a refund if delivery fails because of your own details.
• Selling a package and expecting to pass on the extras. Only the ticket can be sold, so you lose extras such as parking.
• Listing on two sites at once. Ticketmaster’s policy does not allow the same tickets on another resale site at the same time.

Who is Ticketmaster resale best for?

Ticketmaster resale is best for fans who missed a sold-out Ticketmaster show and want a capped price from a familiar checkout. It is not worth it if new tickets are still on sale, or if your plans might change.

• First-timers: a good place to start, because buying feels like buying a new ticket.
• Buying for a child? The buyer must be 18 or over, so an adult has to place the order.
• Groups: seated tickets listed together must be next to each other, so buy them in one listing.
• Disabled fans: if you need to sell an accessible ticket, contact Ticketmaster first, because its policy says these need help.

What to do now (as of 31 October 2026)

As of 31 October 2026, start by checking whether your event has resale switched on, because each organiser decides. Open the event page on Ticketmaster and look for pink dots or a Best Available option.

Two big shows show how the routes differ. For Harry Styles at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday 25, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 August 2027, Wembley’s event page said resale would open on Ticketmaster from 16 October 2026. For Olivia Rodrigo at The O2 in 2027, tickets bought through The O2 or AXS go through AXS Official Resale instead.

Nothing on the official service? Look again nearer the date. If you then try an open marketplace, where sellers set their own prices, read is StubHub legit and is viagogo legit first. For how the first sale works, see UK concert tickets.