Live Nation Entertainment reported its first quarter with revenue above $10 billion, supported by higher concert attendance. The results come as the company and Ticketmaster dispute when and how a federal ticketing case will go to trial.
Third-quarter revenue rose nearly 19% from a year earlier to $10.11 billion, exceeding the $9.58 billion consensus estimate by about 5.5%. Attendance increased 19% to 61 million, while diluted earnings per share under generally accepted accounting principles reached $1.69, above the $1.50 estimate. Third-quarter revenue
International attendance drives growth
Concerts generated $8.75 billion in revenue, up 20%. International attendance grew 29%, and international fans outnumbered domestic fans over the first three quarters of 2026. International markets also exceeded the United States in sponsorship revenue, accounting for about 60% of total fan growth and 65% of sponsorship revenue growth.
Live Nation cited record stadium attendance during the summer in the United Kingdom and Europe. South American attendance grew roughly fivefold, helped by Rock in Rio.
Ticket sales for 2026 events were running 13% ahead of the prior year. Event-related deferred revenue reached its highest third-quarter level, up 8%, and the company expects nearly 180 million fans in 2026 and double-digit operating income growth across all three segments.
Ticketing case heads into discovery
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and seven state attorneys general sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster in late 2025, alleging violations of the 2016 BOTS Act, which prohibits bots that evade ticket limits, and broader deceptive conduct. A judge denied the companies’ motion to dismiss, moving the case into evidence discovery.
In an October 27 filing in the US District Court for the Central District of California, the FTC and states requested a jury trial on April 24, 2028. Live Nation and Ticketmaster proposed a trial before a judge on October 2, 2028. The court had adopted neither proposal as of the filing.
Live Nation argues that the FTC is seeking to hold ticketing companies responsible when bot operators bypass their security measures. The company also points to its advocacy for ticketing reform, including lobbying for the original BOTS Act.
