Concert presales explained: fan club, card and venue codes

A presale is an early go at the same tickets everyone else will chase at the general sale. The trick is knowing where each code or link comes from: the artist's fan club, the promoter's mailing list, the ticket seller, the venue, your card or your phone plan. Get on the right lists before a tour drops and you're in a much better spot.

This guide is built from the help pages at Ticketmaster, Ticketek, Live Nation, Frontier Touring and AXS, plus the ACCC and New Zealand's Consumer Protection, all checked on 3 October 2026. Sellers change their rules often, so check the help page for your sale. We're not connected to any ticket seller, promoter, bank or telco mentioned here.

Tour dates are on our artist pages, and upcoming shows on the city pages for Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.

What is a presale, and is it cheaper?

Ticketmaster's help pages in Australia, New Zealand and the US all describe it the same way: presales let fans buy before the general sale, and depending on the type "you may need to sign up to join the presale or get a code to access the ticket sale."

Ticketek Australia says presales usually run "a few days or weeks before the general public on-sale, with a limited allocation of seats", and they're run by promoters, venues or artists, so not every event gets one. The promoter picks which seats go in, and they "may be located anywhere in the venue". Presales "are not a preferential seating service", and Ticketek won't swap or refund presale tickets if better seats turn up later.

Cheaper? Nothing we read says presales are cheaper or dearer as a rule. Live Nation Australia says "Presale tickets are the same as those available in the general sale, they are just available earlier," and that it sometimes limits presale numbers so enough tickets are left for the general sale. Frontier Touring says tickets in all price categories are on offer in both its member presale and the general on-sale, and buying early or waiting is "entirely your choice".

Seats priced well above the rest on Ticketmaster may be In Demand tickets: primary tickets, not resale, priced by the organiser "closer to their true market value", per Ticketmaster AU.

Presales also eat into the general sale. Ticketek lists them as one reason shows sell out fast.

How do I get a presale code?

Fan club presales

If an artist has a fan club, Ticketmaster AU and NZ say members may be invited to presales. You join through the artist's fan club site, and Ticketmaster says to look for your activation email within 7 to 10 business days unless the fan club says otherwise. Ticketmaster US is blunt about it: "All fan club presale codes come from fan clubs, not from Ticketmaster."

Codes are case sensitive, and not every fan club runs presales. Ticketmaster US says some fan clubs cost money to join, so read the details first. Some artists sell a "Ticket + Fan Club Membership" bundle in the presale, which needs no code.

Promoter member presales: Frontier, Live Nation and Ticketek

Frontier Touring. A Frontier Member presale is "a period (usually 24 hours)" before the general sale, covering shows by Frontier, Chugg Entertainment and touring partners. Not every tour gets one. Each member has "their own unique presale code", which is in your sign-up confirmation email, on your "My details" page, and shown on the tour page when you're signed in. Some shows use a shared codeword or a hidden link instead, so check the "Presale code" section on the artist's tour page. You don't need a presale email to take part.

You still buy through the show's ticketing agency (Frontier names AXS, Moshtix, Oztix, Ticketmaster and Ticketek), and that account is separate from your Frontier one, so set it up ahead of time. Sponsor presales run separately.

My Live Nation (Australia). According to Live Nation AU, "there is no need for a presale code". Register a free Live Nation account, stay logged in, and ticket links show up on the Live Nation site when the presale starts. You'll still need a separate login with the ticket agent. Many Live Nation events also have a presale for "fans of our brand partners".

My Ticketek. Ticketek AU says a free My Ticketek account gives you access to "My Ticketek member pre-sales".

Ticketmaster presales

Create a Ticketmaster account and favourite your artists, teams and venues so Ticketmaster can email you about presales. As of October 2026, Ticketmaster AU and NZ say "App favourites don't generate presale emails", so do it on the website as well.

For a Ticketmaster presale, eligible fans get an email with an access link. Ticketmaster says the criteria vary and it can't confirm in advance whether you'll be eligible. If you don't get access, you can still buy in the general sale.

Artist sign-up presales

This is where you register on the artist's page ahead of time. Many fans know it as Verified Fan; Ticketmaster's help pages call it an artist presale: "any fan that signs up has the opportunity to join the sale."

Log in to Ticketmaster on the artist's sign-up page, tick your shows, check the dates and time zones, tap Sign Up and wait for the confirmation page. You can change your picks until the window closes, but after that you can't join. Ticketmaster says signing up doesn't mean you'll definitely get tickets.

Ticketmaster emails a reminder the day before. In Australia and NZ, the help pages say you'll also get an SMS up to an hour before the sale, to local mobile numbers only. If the presale is ticketed by a company other than Ticketmaster, you may need a code, which is emailed with the link the night before.

Venue and label presales

Some venues hold their own presales for people on their mailing list, and email a direct link, according to Ticketmaster AU and NZ. If there's a room you go to a lot, check whether it has a mailing list. For Auckland's biggest indoor shows, our Spark Arena guide covers the venue itself.

Label presales usually come from pre-ordering merch from the band's or label's online store. The code comes from the label, so contact them using the details in the original email if it doesn't arrive.

Card and phone plan presales

Mastercard. Ticketmaster AU and NZ describe Mastercard Preferred Tickets as "a limited number of tickets set aside from general public sale for specific tours" for Mastercard cardholders, and say cardholders get presale access in specific markets. If you can't unlock tickets or hit an error at checkout, your card type might not qualify, so check the ticket details for the card required.

Telstra Plus. Telstra says Telstra Plus members get "pre-sale events exclusive to Telstra Plus members". You need to be 18 or over with an active Telstra-branded service, and tickets are "strictly subject to availability during sale window".

We couldn't check presales run by AU or NZ banks or other card issuers. Ask your bank directly.

How do presales work in the US?

As of October 2026, the US has a few presale types you won't see in Australia or New Zealand:

Ticketmaster US also lists T-Mobile and Verizon offers, and Reserved by Spotify, which lets selected Premium subscribers aged 18 and over reserve up to two tickets for a tour. It's US-only "at this time".

How do I prepare for a presale?

This comes from Ticketmaster AU's booking tips and Live Nation AU's advice.

• Create or log in to your account with the ticket seller, and reset your password if you've forgotten it.
• Update your billing and delivery details, email and phone number.
• Check the presale time in your time zone, especially for interstate or trans-Tasman shows.
• Pick a back-up date or city.
• Turn off browser extensions, VPNs, Apple Private Relay and proxies. Avoid public wifi.
• Check the ticket limit for the event and stick to it. It varies by show.
• Check any age restrictions at the venue.
• Be on the event page at least 10 minutes early. Live Nation AU says "Some presale links open 30 minutes early".

Ticketmaster and Ticketek both say orders linked by name, email, billing address or card count together, so extra accounts won't get you round a limit, and orders over it can be cancelled.

What happens in the presale queue?

Ticketmaster (AU, NZ and US). The queue is "a virtual line that uses advanced security measures to detect bots and monitor traffic". You can join the waiting room up to 15 minutes before the sale. Join after it starts and you go to the back. Use one account, one device and one browser, because switching sends you to the back. For multi-date events you can use a separate tab for each date's sale. Don't refresh. When it's your turn, you have 10 minutes. Turn your volume up so you hear the bell.

If Ticketmaster pauses your activity, follow the on-screen steps. Its AU help page suggests switching to mobile data and turning off extensions.

Ticketek (AU). Ticketek's advice runs the other way, so follow the instructions for your sale: "Log in close to the on-sale time... Logging in too early may result in a timeout and losing your place in the queue." Don't use multiple browsers, tabs or devices, and don't refresh the busy "Lounge" page, because it refreshes itself. Ticketek NZ's FAQ, last updated in August 2024, mentions an 8-minute limit on site access for popular events and 8 minutes to pay once you've picked tickets. Check that with Ticketek NZ, as it may have changed.

AXS. AXS says its waiting room usually opens 30 minutes before the sale, and arriving then is no different from joining a minute before.

Why isn't my presale code working?

Run through these in order:

1. Type it exactly as shown. Ticketek says no typos or extra spaces, and fan club codes are case sensitive.
2. Put it in the right box. On Ticketmaster, sign in, open the ticket search, select "Unlock" next to "Filters" and enter the code there. A promo code is something else and goes in at checkout. On Ticketek, the presale password field is "usually located below the venue dropdown or the 'Find Tickets' button".
3. Check it hasn't expired and that you meet the offer terms.
4. Check the ticket limit. Ticketmaster US says to make sure you haven't gone over it, and that you've met any presale requirements.
5. Check it's not a link-only offer. Some Ticketmaster offers only work through an emailed link.
6. Contact whoever issued it. That means the fan club, promoter, label or card provider.

Still nothing? It may simply be sold out. Ticketmaster's AU help page points out that a code doesn't promise you a ticket, because the allocation could already be gone.

Can I buy accessible tickets in a presale?

Often, yes. Frontier says accessible tickets are on sale during its member presales. Ticketmaster AU's BTS event page lists wheelchair accessible seating and Companion Card tickets "during presale and general on sale, subject to availability". Other Ticketmaster AU event pages, such as Bruno Mars's, link to an Accessible Bookings request form.

Are presale code websites legit?

Be very wary. Presale codes come from the fan club, promoter, ticket seller, venue, label, or your card or phone provider. Ticketmaster AU and NZ say Ticketmaster only provides codes for Live Nation and Ticketmaster presales, and Ticketmaster US says fan club codes come only from fan clubs. Anyone else selling or "finding" codes isn't one of those sources.

Watch for fake emails too. Ticketmaster AU says it will never ask you to buy a third-party gift card or enter your card details through a link, and its help page lists the addresses it sends email from.

What if I miss out on the presale?

You've still got the general sale, which Ticketmaster says stays open to you even if you missed an artist presale or didn't get a presale email. If the show sells out, Frontier runs waitlists. Everyone on a city's list is told at the same time, by SMS or email, but Frontier says joining doesn't mean more tickets will come up. Ticketek's on-sale page also covers why better tickets are sometimes available later, so keep checking.

Presale FAQ

Do I need two accounts? Often. Frontier and Live Nation memberships are separate from your account with the ticket seller, and you'll usually need to be logged in to both.

Can I cancel my Frontier membership and rejoin? Yes. Frontier says you can sign up again any time, "including during a presale". Cancelling removes presale access across the Frontier family, including Chugg Entertainment and MG Live.