Live Nation Entertainment Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results


“In a world of endless screens and AI-generated everything, the one thing that can't be replicated is being there. Artists are taking their music to more fans in more places than ever, and fans are showing up in record numbers. Through October, we've sold 170 million tickets, up 13% and already ahead of all of last year. We now expect to welcome nearly 180 million fans in 2026.
This quarter attendance grew 19%, and year-to-date, international markets surpassed the U.S. in both concert attendance and sponsorship revenue — a powerful sign of how global live music has become. We're investing in more venues around the world, giving artists more stages to build their careers and fans more opportunities to experience the magic of live music. With double-digit adjusted operating income (AOI) growth across all three segments this quarter, we're on track to deliver another record year and sustain double-digit growth for years to come.” –Michael Rapino, President and CEO
ARTISTS REACH MORE FANS WORLDWIDE DRIVING A RECORD QUARTER (3Q26 vs. 3Q25 unless otherwise noted)
- Revenue of $10.1 billion, up 19%
- Operating income of $892 million, up 13%
- AOI of $1.18 billion, up 14%
- Global key operating metrics achieved new levels:
- Fan attendance of 61 million, up 19%
- Fee-bearing tickets of 98 million, up 10% and fee-bearing Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of $11.2 billion, up 13%
- International markets drove global strength, including:
- Fan attendance up 29%, accounting for 60% of total fan growth
- Fee-bearing tickets up 20%, contributing 75% of total fee-bearing ticket growth
- Sponsorship AOI up 12% as international sponsorship surpassed North America in operating income and AOI for the quarter
- Ticket sales for 2026 shows up 13% to approximately 170 million through late October, already exceeding full-year 2025, with stadium, arena, and amphitheater fan count each up mid-teens or higher
- Venue Nation attendance for the year now expected to exceed 75 million, up more than 15% year-over-year
- Through Q3, ticketing GTV for primary tickets sold for 2027 shows up double-digits compared to same point last year, driven by double-digit growth in North America primary ticket volume


ARTISTS DRAW RECORD ATTENDANCE WORLDWIDE (3Q26 vs. 3Q25 unless otherwise noted)
- Revenue of $8.7 billion, up 20%
- AOI of $603 million, up 17%
- Global fan attendance of 61 million, up 19%, reflecting broad-based demand across all regions and large venue types:
- North America up 13% with stadiums and amphitheaters driving 90% of the growth
- International up 29%, with all regions up at least 15%
- Fan attendance at third-party stadiums up over 40%, accounting for more than half of global fan growth
- Concerts remain a high consumer priority:
- Ticket sales exceeded prior-year levels every month of 2026 through October
- Ticket sales for the month of October up over 20%, reflecting strong show closings
- September marked an all-time monthly high for amphitheater attendance and number of shows
- Sell-through rates are ahead of last year while cancellation rates pace below year-to-date
- Record Q3 event-related deferred revenue of $3.8 billion, up 8%
- Prepaid advertising expense for 2027 shows up double-digits at the end of Q3
- Fan attendance now expected to approach 180 million for the full year, delivering double-digit growth
- Concerts on track to deliver double-digit AOI growth for the full year


VENUE NATION EXPANDS STAGES FOR ARTISTS WORLDWIDE AND ENHANCES FAN EXPERIENCES
- Venue Nation hosted 26 million fans in Q3, up 17% and now expected to host over 75 million fans in 2026
- Arenas outside the U.S. expected to deliver 75% of owned or operated fan growth at our large venues for the full year, with attendance now surpassing U.S. amphitheaters
- Fans are choosing a range of experiences at our large U.S. amphitheaters, with upgrade purchases and VIP revenue per ticket up double-digits while value menu unit sales more than doubled
- Similar strength internationally, with onsite spending at our European arenas up double-digits
- On track to open or acquire 10 large (over 3,000 capacity) venues through the end of the year, which are expected to deliver over 5 million fans this year with a run-rate of nearly 8 million


INTERNATIONAL SPONSORSHIP SURPASSES NORTH AMERICA (3Q26 vs. 3Q25 unless otherwise noted)
- Revenue of $506 million, up 14%
- AOI of $350 million, up 12%
- International markets, led by ticket access, venues, and festivals, contributed 65% of sponsorship revenue growth for the quarter
- Sponsorship AOI on track to grow double-digits for the full year


DEMAND FOR ARTISTS’ SHOWS DRIVES RECORD Q3 TICKETING RESULTS (3Q26 vs. 3Q25 unless otherwise noted)
- Revenue of $870 million, up 9%
- AOI of $316 million, up 10%
- Record fee-bearing ticket volume of 98 million, up 10%
- Concerts accounted for 95% of fee-bearing ticket growth, benefitting from successful early 2027 on sales
- International markets contributed 75% of fee-bearing ticket growth
- Secondary ticket GTV flat, with growth in sports offsetting lower concert resale activity, consistent with efforts to constrain scalper sales
- Net new ticketing agreements added 23 million tickets, over 70% from international markets, expanding our ability to help artists and venues reach fans
- Full-year AOI growth is now expected to be up high single-digits

STRONG CASH GENERATION SUPPORTS INVESTMENT IN MORE STAGES FOR ARTISTS
- Year-to-date operating cash flow of $2.1 billion, up 45% and free cash flow—adjusted of $1.6 billion, up 25% with AOI to free cash flow—adjusted conversion of 69%, up from 60% last year
- Full-year AOI to free cash flow—adjusted conversion expected to exceed last year
- Year-to-date capital expenditures total $722 million, on track for full-year spend of nearly $1.1 billion:
- $800 million directed toward expanding and improving venues, giving artists more places to perform and fans better live experiences
- Approximately $200 million from funding by joint-venture partners, sponsorship agreements, and other sources reduce venue cash requirements
- Remainder to focus on ticketing and sponsorship growth initiatives, as well as ongoing maintenance requirements
BALANCE SHEET WELL-POSITIONED FOR CONTINUED VENUE INVESTMENT
- October refinancing extended maturities to 2031, providing additional financial flexibility to fund venue expansion at an attractive cost of capital, while euro-denominated debt aligns with our growing international business
- 80% of our debt is fixed-rate with a weighted average cost of debt of 4.3%
OTHER FINANCIAL 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
- Since mid-year, full-year foreign exchange benefit reduced by approximately $20 million
- Below-the-line items (full year):
- Noncontrolling interest expense is expected to be approximately $325 million. This projection may be further impacted by mark-to-market revaluations of investments and will have 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 partners
- 2026 share count not expected to change materially from 2025

Compare Our Operating Results to Past Quarters In The Trended Results Grid:
https://investors.livenationentertainment.com/financial-information/financial-results
The company will webcast a teleconference today, November 5, 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 3Q26 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 September 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 (NYSE: LYV) helps artists grow their careers through live music, promoting shows that connect them with fans around the world. Since 2005, we've connected artists with more than 1.5 billion fans across 55 countries. A live concert is more than a show — it's a moment fans wait all year for, travel for, and remember for a lifetime. Live Nation exists to make more of those moments possible, helping artists grow their careers and bringing more live music to more fans, everywhere. For more information, visit investors.livenationentertainment.com.





