Concert sold out? What you can do (safely)

The show you wanted just sold out. Before you go hunting through Facebook groups, take a breath. "Sold out" on the main sale usually isn't the end of it, and the safest second chance is often sitting on the same event page you just got bumped from. The riskiest one is a stranger in your DMs with "spare tickets, bank transfer only".

Below are your options from safest to riskiest, based on what Ticketmaster, Ticketek and consumer agencies in Australia and New Zealand say, as of October 2026. Policies change, so check the linked pages before you spend anything. We're not connected to any ticket seller mentioned here.

Quick answers

Can I still get tickets after a concert sells out?

Often, yes, through the authorised seller's own resale. Fans who can't go list their tickets on the same site you'd have bought from. The two you'll see most here are Ticketmaster Resale and Ticketek Marketplace.

The catch: it isn't on for every show. Ticketmaster says resale isn't available for every event or ticket type because event partners decide, and in NZ presenters can switch it off or restrict certain ticket types. Ticketek says the same about Marketplace: organisers control which events are eligible. Ticketmaster doesn't promise listings by any set time, so keep checking back.

Promoters do sometimes add shows or release more tickets, but there's no rule about when. Follow the artist, promoter and venue so you hear about it. Our artist pages and the city listings for Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland are a good way to keep an eye on what's touring.

How does Ticketmaster Resale work?

Ticketmaster describes resale tickets as tickets "being sold by another fan". Buying one works much like buying a normal ticket, and Ticketmaster says it verifies resale listings.

Here's what to know, according to its Australian and NZ help pages and resale terms:

• The price cap. In Australia, sellers can't list above 110% of the original face value, excluding booking fees. In New Zealand the cap is 120% of face value, and face value there doesn't include transaction fees, delivery charges or stadium levies. Sellers can always ask less. You'll see the original face value at checkout.
• Fees. A handling fee and a resale seller fee apply on top.
• A fresh barcode. When your order is confirmed, the original ticket's barcode is cancelled and a new ticket with a new barcode is issued to you. That's the big safety win over buying privately.
• Payment. Visa, Mastercard or American Express. In Australia, PayPal, Afterpay and Ticketmaster gift cards aren't accepted for resale.
• It's final. No change-of-mind refunds or exchanges. Refunds only apply in specific cases such as the event being cancelled or rescheduled. You won't get money back if prices drop after you buy.

One quirk: general admission resale tickets show a row and seat number, but Ticketmaster says that's for system purposes and usually doesn't mean an actual spot.

When will my Ticketmaster resale tickets arrive?

In Australia, resale tickets are mobile entry only. Ticketmaster says standard processing takes about 48 hours, and your order might not show in your account during that time. On or near the event day, allow up to an hour. If they still haven't appeared an hour before the show, contact Fan Support.

How does Ticketek Marketplace work?

Ticketek Marketplace is Ticketek's own platform for buying and selling tickets, and it gives you access to events that have sold out through the main sale. Ticketek says resale prices are capped at the original face value "to comply with relevant legislation", and its buyer FAQ puts it plainly: "No ticket will be resold for more than its original face value." Sellers can go lower.

What else to know:

• New barcodes in your name. Resold tickets are reissued with new barcodes and the buyer's name, and the original is voided.
• Buyer cover. Ticketek's buyer FAQ promises you'll receive valid tickets in time for the event or get your money back. The seller isn't paid until after the event, so the money is held until you've been.
• Delivery. Usually immediate or within 48 hours, though venues and promoters can ask for delays. Contact support if you haven't received them five business days before the event.
• Last-minute buys. Your confirmation email isn't a ticket. If digital tickets don't arrive, take photo ID and the confirmation to the box office. Only the original Marketplace buyer can collect them there.
• Read the listing. "Additional Details" flags restricted views and accessibility details. Seats are only together if they were bought in one order.
• No refunds or exchanges, except for cancelled or rescheduled events. Service, handling and reissue fees apply.

How do I buy a ticket from a friend safely?

Get them to send it through the ticketing company, not as a screenshot or PDF.

Ticketmaster's Ticket Transfer moves tickets from one Ticketmaster account to another at no cost. Once you accept, you get a new barcode in your own account and the sender's tickets stop working. Only the sender can cancel a transfer, and only before you've accepted it. That fresh barcode is the whole point: it's yours, and nobody else is holding a copy that works.

Get ready for the next chance

If nothing's turned up on resale yet, set yourself up so you're quicker next time.

• Favourites and alerts. Ticketmaster suggests adding artists and venues to your favourites, signing up for alerts and joining the artist's fan club.
• Presales. In Australia, Ticketmaster lists Ticketmaster or Live Nation, venue (via mailing lists), label (often through merch pre-orders) and fan club presales. A code doesn't mean tickets will be there. Ticketek says presales are run by promoters, venues or artists, aren't on for every event, and have limited allocations, and that an invitation doesn't promise you tickets.
• A backup plan. Ticketmaster's own advice is "Have a back-up plan - if the show you wanted sells out, have a second venue or date in mind to book!"
• Don't look like a bot. Sign in ahead of time, keep your billing details current, turn off automated tools and browser extensions, and avoid public wifi. Ticketmaster's NZ tips add: stay in one browser window on one device, and skip VPNs, Apple Private Relay and constant refreshing. Looking like a bot can get you blocked for a while. Stick to the ticket limit too, or your order can be cancelled.

Is it safe to buy tickets on Facebook, Gumtree or resale sites?

This is where most of the risk is. Ticketek names Viagogo, StubHub, eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace as unauthorised sellers, and says tickets from them risk being cancelled, being refused entry and getting no refund. Ticketek can verify tickets bought through its website, app or Marketplace, but it "cannot confirm the validity of tickets purchased through other resale sites or third-party sellers". Its terms say tickets resold at a premium without consent may be cancelled without a refund.

The ACCC adds wrong seats, hidden conditions and counterfeits to the list of risks. In New Zealand, Consumer Protection says resale platforms "are not authorised sellers for events" and can't promise your ticket will get you in, and that some use misleading wording to look like the real seller. It singles out Facebook and private sellers as especially risky. The Commerce Commission's page says it has civil proceedings against Viagogo and tells buyers to "seriously consider" whether buying from it is worth the risk.

Scam warning signs

Pulled together from Ticketek, the ACCC, Scamwatch and the Queensland Government:

• The seller wants a bank transfer, cash, gift cards, crypto, a money order or a pre-loaded card.
• The price is well above face value, or suspiciously far below it.
• They won't show proof of purchase, or there's no buyer protection.
• The account is new, with little history or few followers, or the seller says they live overseas and can't meet.
• Tickets are "available" before the on-sale date, which the ACCC says suggests counterfeits.
• The site came from a search ad. The ACCC and Scamwatch both warn the top result isn't always the real seller.
• In the ACCC's rules, resale sites must say: "This is a ticket resale service. You are not buying from a primary ticket provider." If you see that, you're not on the original seller's site.

If you do buy privately, pay by credit card. Queensland's Fair Trading and NZ Consumer Protection both point to chargebacks as your way back, and the ACCC says never put cash straight into a bank account and always get a receipt. WA Consumer Protection suggests checking a resale seat against the authorised seller's seating plan.

What do the resale laws say?

A quick version, as of October 2026:

We haven't covered Victoria, SA, the ACT, Tasmania or the NT here. Check with your local fair trading office.

What if the show's cancelled and I bought resale?

The ACCC says refunds may be available when an event is cancelled or significantly changed, such as a different headliner or venue, depending on the reason and the ticket terms. Queensland lists cancellation, the headline act not performing, and venue or date changes that make it impossible to attend.

Here's the catch for resale buyers. NSW says if an event is cancelled, the refund goes to the original purchaser, not you. Your contract is with the reseller. Ticketmaster Resale and Ticketek Marketplace reissue tickets to you, and both list cancellation and rescheduling as the main refund exceptions, which is another reason to buy there.

I've been scammed. What do I do?

Move fast.

In Australia, Scamwatch says:

1. Contact your bank or card provider straight away and ask them to stop the transaction.
2. Call IDCARE, the free identity and cyber support service for Australia and NZ, on 1800 595 160.
3. Report it to Scamwatch, and lodge a police report online at cyber.gov.au.
4. If your bank's response isn't good enough, complain to AFCA.

Ticketek says if you bought from an unauthorised seller, you'll need to deal with that seller. Report the listing to the platform it was on, to Scamwatch, or to Ticketek if it falsely claimed a link to Ticketek. In WA, Consumer Protection says request a chargeback and report it to WA ScamNet.

In New Zealand:

1. Stop contact and stop paying.
2. Contact your bank immediately and ask about a chargeback.
3. Change your passwords.
4. Report money lost to NZ Police on 105, cyber issues to the National Cyber Security Centre at ncsc.govt.nz/report, and social media scams to the platform.

Consumer Protection NZ also points to the Commerce Commission, Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Law Centres and the Disputes Tribunal.

Heading to a show in the US?

Some artists turn on Ticketmaster's Face Value Exchange, where tickets can only be resold to another fan for the original price paid, including fees and taxes. Ticketmaster says it was built to help artists "minimize scalping". It's first come, first served, and listings can appear up to an hour after the show starts. On regular Ticketmaster resale in the US, the seller sets the price, and tickets are labelled as resale before you buy.

Ticketmaster also lists third-party resale tickets in the US. Those sales are final unless the event's cancelled, and if it's postponed or moved, you deal with that seller, not Ticketmaster. You can report suspected illegal ticket brokers to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

FAQ

Can Ticketek check if my ticket is real? Only if it was bought through Ticketek's website, app or Marketplace. It can't confirm tickets from other resale sites or private sellers.

Is there a waitlist for sold-out shows? We couldn't find a waitlist feature in Ticketmaster Australia's help pages. Check the event page for resale instead.

Is scalping illegal in NZ? For most concerts, reselling above face value isn't capped by law, because no concert has been declared a major event. Ticketmaster's NZ resale still caps listings at 120%.