Live Nation Entertainment Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results


"In a world of endless screens and AI-generated everything, the one thing that can't be copied is being there. More artists are on the road than ever — and fans keep choosing to be in the room with them, driving the strongest concert ticket sales we've ever seen. More than 143 million tickets have sold through mid-July, over 14 million ahead of last year's pace, with mid-teens ticket sales growth across all large venue types: stadiums, arenas, and amphitheaters.
None of this happens without the artists — they make these moments, and we're grateful to every artist and crew who trust us with their tours. This was a quarter of milestones: nearly 49 million fans attended our shows, Ticketmaster grew adjusted operating income 14%, and all-time-high deferred revenue points to a strong second half. The first-quarter legal accrual will weigh on reported operating income, but we remain on track for double-digit adjusted operating income growth this year — and to compound at that level for years to come." – Michael Rapino, President and CEO
GLOBAL DEMAND FOR LIVE EVENTS DRIVES RECORD FAN GROWTH (2Q26 vs. 2Q25)
- Revenue of $7.7 billion, up 9%
- Operating income of $522 million, up 7%
- Adjusted operating income (AOI) of $817 million, up 2%
- Concerts revenue grew 8%, while AOI reflected the timing of shows and continued investments in venues and festivals
- Ticketmaster results surpassed expectations, with AOI up 14% and 90 million fee-bearing tickets sold, up 8%
- Sponsorship AOI increased 13%, fueled by the international expansion of venues and festivals
- International markets powered growth across all segments:
- Drove attendance growth of 10%, adding approximately five million fans to a record 49 million globally
- Contributed 70% and 80% of Ticketmaster and Sponsorship AOI growth for the quarter, respectively


ARTIST ACTIVITY GLOBALLY DRIVES HIGHEST 2Q CONCERTS ATTENDANCE (2Q26 vs. 2Q25 unless otherwise noted)
- Revenue of $6.4 billion, up 8%
- Fan count of 49 million, up 10%
- International attendance at stadiums, arenas, and festivals all up over 20%
- U.S. attendance at amphitheaters and arenas up double digits, while stadium attendance declined due to show timing
- Underlying demand trends remain robust:
- Sell through rates across all U.S. large venue types remain at or above prior-year levels for shows through the end of 2Q
- Cancellation rates remain at historical levels
- Affordability remains a key priority, with low- to mid-single-digit price increases across stadiums, arenas, and amphitheaters, and U.S. get-in ticket price increases continuing to trail inflation over the past five years
- AOI of $310 million was down 14% due to the timing of stadium shows, venue pre-opening costs, and new international festivals
- Q2 ended with record event-related deferred revenue of $6.4 billion, up 25%, pointing to accelerating stadium and amphitheater activity in the second half
- Full-year fan attendance is now projected to grow 10%, with expected attendance at operated venues up double digits and third-party venues up high single digits
- For the full year, Concerts remains on track to deliver double-digit AOI growth, with the majority of the year-over-year improvement occurring in Q4, and continued margin expansion


VENUE NATION DELIVERING MORE SHOWS AND ENHANCED HOSPITALITY FOR FANS GLOBALLY
- Year-to-date, onsite food and beverage spending increased high single digits year-over-year at large U.S. amphitheaters and across European arenas and theaters
- Investments in premium experiences are driving strong returns: at newly opened amphitheaters, Morton and Mystic Lake, enhanced offerings are driving premium revenue nearly 75% higher than comparable amphitheaters
- Venue Nation on track to host close to 75 million fans in 2026, up double digits year-over-year, driven by an increase in show count from higher utilization of our existing venues and adding new venues
- 2026 pre-opening costs for all venues under development expected to be approximately $50 million, with current projects on track to achieve 20%+ IRRs
- Current pipeline of more than 25 large (over 3,000 seats) venues expected to open through the end of 2027, adding capacity for an incremental 15 million fans on a run rate basis


LIVE EVENTS CONTINUE TO ATTRACT GROWING BRAND INVESTMENTS (2Q26 vs. 2Q25 unless otherwise noted)
- Revenue of $383 million, up 12%, led by the strength of our international markets, up 17%
- AOI of $257 million, up 13%
- Brand demand remains broad-based, driven by our expanding venue portfolio and global festivals, which contributed 70% of the growth
- Number of strategic partners (over $1 million in revenue per year) increased over 20%, with associated revenue up double digits
- New ticket access partnership with Spotify’s Reserved leverages Ticketmaster’s platform to help more fans access tickets
- Sponsorship AOI expected to grow double digits for the year, with 95% of sponsorship commitments booked for 2026
- Margins expected to be similar to last year


DEMAND FOR CONCERTS FUELS HIGHEST 2Q FOR TICKETMASTER (2Q26 vs. 2Q25 unless otherwise noted)
- Revenue of $852 million, up 15%
- AOI of $331 million, up 14%
- 90 million fee-bearing tickets sold, up 8%
- Concerts remained the primary growth driver with tickets sold up 11%, accounting for 90% of the ticket volume growth
- International markets sold 39 million tickets, up 12% with Gross Transaction Value (GTV) up 20% led by strong growth in South America
- North America secondary ticket volume was flat as growth in sports GTV offset a decline in concerts activity; this business now accounts for low double-digit portion of GTV, reflecting ongoing efforts to reduce scalper and bot activity
- Reported fee-bearing GTV up 15% to over $10 billion, led by concerts accounting for 90% of the growth
- 16 million net new tickets added year-to-date, with 85% from international markets as venues continue to choose Ticketmaster globally
- Q2 ended with deferred GTV of $5.2 billion, up 16%, and deferred service fee revenue of $390 million, up 23%
- Ticketmaster AOI positioned to grow mid-single digits for the full year, led by strong concert activity and expanding global client base
- Margins expected to be similar to last year

CAPITAL ALLOCATION SUPPORTS VENUE EXPANSION AND LONG-TERM GROWTH
- Full year capital expenditures now projected to be $1.1 billion, toward the lower end of our initial range due to timing of projects:
- $800 million of total capital expenditures is for venue expansion and enhancement projects
- Approximately $200 million from funding by joint-venture partners, sponsorship agreements, and other sources will reduce venue cash requirements
- Additional capital expenditures focused on our ticketing and sponsorship growth initiatives, as well as ongoing maintenance at our venues
- Full year AOI to free cash flow—adjusted conversion expected to be in line with or higher than 2025
- Free cash ended at approximately $2 billion compared to $1.7 billion last quarter, providing ample liquidity to invest in high-return projects
FULL-YEAR INCOME STATEMENT DETAILS (vs. 2025)
- Depreciation and amortization expected to grow 12-15%
- Net interest expense is expected to be approximately $280 million
- Corporate / Other and Eliminations expense expected to increase in line with AOI growth
- Income tax expense is expected to be 15-20% of AOI, with cash taxes projected to be 80% of that amount
- Below the line items:
- Noncontrolling interest expense is expected to be approximately $325 million for the full year and its growth will follow the timing of AOI growth. This projection may be further impacted by mark-to-market revaluations of investments with no impact to earnings per share, as any impact will be offset in other income and expenses
- Accretion expense is projected to be one-third of last year’s, with continued strong performance at OCESA and other acquisitions
- 2026 share count not expected to change materially from 2025

Compare Our Operating Results to Past Quarters In The Trended Results Grid: investors.livenationentertainment.com/financial-information/financial-results
The company will webcast a teleconference today, July 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss its financial performance, operational matters and potentially other material developments. Interested parties should visit the “News / Events” section of the company’s website at investors.livenationentertainment.com to listen to the webcast. Supplemental statistical and financial information to be provided on the call, if any, will be posted to the “Financial Info” section of the website. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Live Nation website. The link to the 2Q26 Trended Results Grid is provided above for convenience and such grid is not a part of, or incorporated into, this press release or any SEC filings that include this press release.
Notice Regarding Financial Statements
The company has provided certain financial statements at the end of this press release for reference. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the full financial statements, and the notes thereto, set forth in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today and available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit investors.livenationentertainment.com.





