When is the best time to buy concert tickets?

The short answer

There are two good moments, and they are opposites. Buy in the first hour of the general sale, or wait until the last few days before the show. The stretch in between is usually the worst time, because early demand has cleared the cheap seats and sellers have not yet cut prices.

Which one suits you depends on a single question: will this show sell out?

Buy early when the show will sell out

For an arena tour by a major artist, a short residency, or anything with one date in your city, buy at the general sale. Resale prices for a sold-out show often jump in the first day after the sale, and for the dates everyone wants they can stay high. Waiting also risks finding no suitable seats left.

Early buying also gets you choice. The first hour is when full rows, aisle seats and seats together still exist. Later you are picking through what other people did not want.

Wait when the show has room

For a weeknight club show, a multi-night run, or an act playing a room larger than its usual draw, waiting pays. Sellers holding tickets they cannot use get less patient as the event approaches, and prices drift down.

The last 48 hours are the sharpest part of that drop. A ticket has no value the moment the doors close, so a seller who has not sold by then will take less.

How to tell which kind of show you have

Check how many dates the artist is playing near you. One date in a big city means competition. Three nights at the same venue means supply.

Look at how quickly seating tiers disappear during the presale. If the cheapest tier is gone in minutes, treat it as a sell-out and buy early. If cheap seats are still listed a week later, waiting is safe.

Venue size matters too. A 1,200-capacity club with a popular act sells out faster than a 20,000-seat arena with the same act, simply because there is less room.

What does not work

Counting on a late price drop for a sold-out show is a gamble, not a plan. Resale prices often do fall in the final days, even for popular shows, but the seats you want may be gone by then, and some resale sites set a minimum price.

Refreshing at midnight rarely helps either. Prices move when sellers decide to move them, not on a schedule.

A simple rule

If missing the show would upset you, buy at the general sale and stop watching prices. If you are curious rather than committed, set a budget and check again in the last week.

• Sold-out risk: buy in the first hour
• Plenty of seats left: check again 2 to 3 days before
• Either way, compare the all-in total, not the sticker price

Frequently asked questions

Do concert tickets get cheaper closer to the date?

Often yes, with the biggest drop in the final day or two. That holds for many sold-out shows too, but it is not guaranteed, and the choice of seats shrinks as the date nears.

Is the presale cheaper than the general sale?

No. Presale tickets cost the same face value. What you get is earlier access and better seat choice.

Is it risky to wait until the day of the show?

You may get a lower price, and you may find nothing suitable left. Waiting works best when you are flexible about where you sit.

When do tickets usually go on sale?

Most tours announce a few months ahead, with presales running in the days before a Friday morning general sale.

Does buying two tickets cost more per ticket than buying one?

Sometimes. Fees can change with quantity, so compare the total for the number of seats you actually want.