From Harry Styles to Noah Kahan, concert tickets for the 2026-27 season are the hot ticket item on everyone’s wish lists. With thousands of people vying for a chance to see their favorite artist live, Ticketmaster and online reseller websites have become battlefields for fans.
“I think concert tickets are really expensive, and I would go to more concerts if they were cheaper,” said junior Kading Harvey. “That’s why I like small artists, but they don’t tour everywhere.”
Harry Styles fans have been rioting about ticket prices online, a reaction caused in part by the high prices of ticket resellers. Tickets to the “Together Together” tour started from $50 to nearly $1,000, but skyrocketed to around $3,000 due to resellers and prime venues like Madison Square Garden. Styles has received backlash from fans and haters alike for his failure to stop exorbitant prices and his choice of venues, which include high profile, expensive locations in New York, London and Sydney.
California lawmakers have recently taken steps to stop ticket resellers from taking advantage of fans with the “California Fans First Act” which restricts resale prices to 10% above the original price. The law also requires all resellers to provide a full refund if the event is canceled or if the buyer is denied entry to the venue.
“I’m all for the [Fans First] law,” said Chenne Fox. “I think more states should pass it.”
Artists are also taking action to limit the power of resellers. Noah Kahan, who recently announced tour dates for his “The Great Divide” tour, is setting boundaries with Ticketmaster. All tickets for the tour will use Ticketmaster’s “Face Value Exchange” program, which makes tickets nontransferable in select states and ensures tickets will be sold at the original price. This makes it easier for fans, especially after the so-called “Noah Kahan Ticket Wars” wiped out first-come first-serve tickets at almost every venue.
The discourse over tickets and an artist’s control over prices and resellers will no doubt continue throughout 2026, especially with the release of more albums by artists like Gorillaz, RAYE and Mitski and the tours that follow.
