Fans Have Faced High Prices and Ticket Fraud
A new industry report highlights widespread consumer struggles with event ticketing and resale inflation.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Cultural
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Do you trust the online ticketing systems you use to purchase tickets for live events?
Data from a recent study indicates that 34% of US fans were unable to attend desired events in the past year. Furthermore, 29% of American respondents encountered invalid tickets, while 56% paid inflated prices on the resale market.
Why it matters
The report suggests a growing divide between fan demand for live experiences and the transparency of ticketing platforms. Addressing these barriers is essential for maintaining trust as most fans prioritize verified access over lower costs.
The Kantar survey included 5,107 adults across the US, UK, and Australia, with 1,522 participants from the United States. In the US, 82% of fans reported that live events serve as a key method for social connection.
The players
Tixel
Tixel is a ticketing and resale platform that commissioned this report to analyze global consumer sentiment regarding live event access.
Kantar
Kantar is a professional data, insights, and consulting company that conducted the multi-market survey of 5,107 adults.
The details
The report revealed that 69% of US Gen Z respondents paid inflated prices for tickets, while 28% of all US consumers abandoned purchases entirely due to processing fees. Despite these hurdles, only 43% of respondents expressed trust in current ticketing and event platforms.
Timeline
The survey covers experiences reported by respondents over the past 12 months.
Industry Dynamics
This data highlights the friction caused by the rise of dynamic pricing in the live entertainment industry, which has frequently left fans priced out of major events. These findings follow a pattern set by recent consumer pushback against opaque fee structures and speculative resale markets.
Fans are increasingly facing higher barriers to entry, including inflated costs and the risk of purchasing fraudulent tickets. To mitigate these risks, consumers are urged to prioritize platforms that offer verified tickets over those that do not guarantee authenticity.
The takeaway
Ticket buyers should remain cautious of secondary marketplaces that lack explicit verification processes. Selecting reputable platforms remains the most effective way for fans to ensure they gain entry to their desired events without paying extreme premiums.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in fan experiences in the Cultural section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hypebot.
Live Poll
Do you trust the online ticketing systems you use to purchase tickets for live events?
