How to Buy Concert Tickets in 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide for Presales & General Sales

Attending a concert by your favorite artist is an unforgettable experience - but actually getting the tickets can feel like the hardest part. With presales, queues, and tickets selling out in minutes, being prepared truly makes all the difference.

I’ve successfully bought tickets for high-demand 2026 tours like Bruno Mars’ The Romantic Tour, The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour, and Ariana Grande’s The Eternal Sunshine Tour - and in this guide, I’m sharing exactly how I do it.

With demand this high, luck will always play a role - but preparation can give you a serious advantage. Keep reading for my tried-and-tested ticket-buying strategies and a clear breakdown of how to buy concert tickets with confidence.

From online queues to the venue entrance - getting the ticket is part of the journey.

Things to Do in Advance

Before the sale even starts, make sure everything is set up for a fast and seamless checkout process:

• Create or sign in to your Ticketmaster account

  Do this well in advance and double-check your login details.

• Save your payment details

  This isn’t available in every Ticketmaster market, but if it is, it can save you precious seconds at checkout. In case have your payment method ready, like keep you bank details near by so the checkout process can be smooth as possible.

• Disable browser extensions & VPNs

  Ticketmaster may flag your activity as suspicious or bot-like, which can result in being blocked from the purchase.

• Decide on your preferred dates

  Midweek shows usually have lower demand, which can significantly increase your chances.

• Agree on ticket types and budget (especially if you’re going with friends)

  Decide in advance what you’re aiming for and set a clear plan B.

  Example: Golden Circle standing → General Admission → Seated tickets.

  
  

On the Day of the (Pre)Sale

This is where strategy really matters:

• Be early

  Enter the waiting room as soon as it opens (usually 30 minutes before the sale). If the button isn’t visible yet, refresh the page - this is the only time you should refresh.

• Use only one device and one tab per show date

  Multiple devices or tabs for the same date can get you kicked out of the queue.You can, however, join queues for different dates.

• Stay patient in the queue

  Once the sale starts, you’ll be placed in line automatically. Do not refresh while waiting.

• Stay focused

  When it’s your turn, you’ll be redirected to ticket selection (sometimes Ticketmaster even plays a sound).

• Be quick during ticket selection

  Tickets can disappear while you’re clicking, so knowing exactly what you want in advance is crucial.

  
  

💡 Pro tip: Keep an eye on the artist’s website and social media during the sale. Extra dates are often announced while sales are live - and if you act fast, those tickets can be much easier to get. (This is exactly how I got tickets for Ariana Grande and Bruno Mars.)

Presales Explained (What You Need to Know)

Presales work differently depending on the artist, but these are the most common formats:

• General presale code

  You sign up via the artist’s website and receive a code that’s the same for all fans.

• Unique presale code

  You sign up via the artist’s website and receive a personal unique code that only works for your account.

• Presale link

  Instead of a code, you may receive a direct link. Sometimes the link and code are combined.

• Ticketmaster account–linked presale

  You must sign up using your Ticketmaster account, and access is granted automatically when you log in with that specific account.

⚠️ Important: Always follow the exact presale instructions - they vary by artist, and missing a step can cost you access.

My Experience Buying Tickets for Bruno Mars’ The Romantic Tour 2026

The most recent (and chaotic) presale I joined was for Bruno Mars’ The Romantic Tour 2026 - and of course, I was ready with all my strategies. That said, when millions of fans register, luck still plays a role.

For the Berlin show, I joined the waiting room right when it opened at 12:30 PM. When the presale started, I landed at 89,000 in the queue. Some friends had it even worse, with 100k–200k+ ahead of them.

Here’s where staying alert paid off: about an hour into the presale, a new Berlin date was added. I immediately joined the waiting room for the new show, where I started at 18,000 in the queue. The line moved quickly, and I successfully secured Golden Circle 1 tickets.

My Experience Buying Tickets for Coldplay (2025)

To get tickets for Coldplay’s London show in 2025, I joined the waiting room 26 minutes early and had around 20,000 people ahead of me. After a 1.5-hour wait, I managed to secure four seated tickets (section 520, row 24) - which honestly felt like a win on its own when buying for the whole family.

A few things worth noting from this presale:

• I couldn’t choose my seats - they were assigned automatically.

• When I joined the queue for another date right at sale time, I ended up at 120,000+ in line. Joining early really does make a difference.

• For this particular presale, you had to preorder Coldplay’s new album in order to receive the presale code.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aiming for presales or general sales, following these steps can maximize your chances. Of course, every (pre)sale works a little differently, so stay focused and flexible. But with these general tips - and a bit of patience - you’ll definitely increase your chances on ticket day.

Got questions or need help with a specific concert? Drop me a message on social media - and good luck! 🤞🏻

For more concert tips and adventures, check out my Instagram @concerts.enthusiast and TikTok @concerts.enthusiast