Ticketmaster UK presale: How to sign up for presale tickets and codes

There have been various attempts by artists and promoters to try to combat the bots and touts that so often lurk on ticket sites by introducing a registration system. We first saw this on Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, while artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Pink and Pearl Jam quickly followed suit.

Oasis took this concept one step further by introducing a trivia question about the band as part of their registration process.

However, there is still one surefire way to improve your chances of getting your hands on a ticket, and that is by getting advance tickets.

It’s not rocket science: If you have the chance to participate in a pre-sale before the general sale goes live, you have a better chance of snagging a ticket.

However, there are plenty of other questions that arise: how do I get Ticketmaster pre-sales? How does it work? And what other types of advance sales are available?

Never fear; the RadioTimes.com team is here to answer all these questions and more. Read on for the best chance to see your favorite artist live on stage.

If you’ve missed out on tickets in the past, don’t worry: we’re here to show you how to get remaining tickets for the best concerts of 2025, as well as the biggest celebrities coming to the West End in 2025.

What is a Ticketmaster presale?

As the largest ticket provider operating in the market, Ticketmaster is a household name. It tends to be the go-to site for most people when an artist they like announces a new show or tour.

In addition to regular tickets for sale, users will also have the opportunity to access a number of pre-sales on Ticketmaster’s website, including artist pre-sales, venue pre-sales and, of course, Ticketmaster’s very own pre-sale.

The Ticketmaster presale allows Ticketmaster users to access concert tickets before the general sale begins.

How do Ticketmaster presales work?

To be eligible for Ticketmaster pre-sales, you must have a Ticketmaster accountwhich you can create on their website.

Once you’ve created your Ticketmaster account, you can personalize it by favoring all your top artists, performers, groups and venues.

Ticketmaster will then email you about any upcoming pre-sales with the artists and venues you love.

Create a Ticketmaster account

How do you access presale tickets on Ticketmaster?

Simply click on the pre-sale link that Ticketmaster has sent you via email and you will be taken to a page where you can sign up for the Ticketmaster presale.

What is an artist presale on Ticketmaster?

An artist pre-sale is when an artist releases tickets for their concert to their super fans at an earlier time than regular sales. You will usually gain access to these special pre-sales by being a member of an artist’s mailing list or fan club.

Fans will receive details in advance on how to access pre-sale tickets. Often, artists will give fans a special code to enter on the website that unlocks pre-sale tickets.

What other presales are available on Ticketmaster?

O2 pre-sale

If you have an O2 mobile number or a Virgin Media broadband account, we’ve got good news: you’re already eligible for the O2 presale!

Advance concert tickets are one of the many benefits you get with O2 Priority, along with cinema tickets, six months of free Disney Plus, free snacks from Greggs and much more.

Customers can either download the Priority app on their phone or go to the Priority website to access exclusive 48-hour advance ticket sales.

Get pre-sale tickets with O2 priority

Sign up to Virgin Media broadband to get O2 priority

We’ve rounded up the best Virgin Media offers to make your decision even easier.

Three presales

Similarly, Three customers can also receive exclusive pre-sale tickets as part of the benefits of signing up to Three+., where you can also tailor your account to your interests and preferences in ‘My Settings’.

Once you’re done, you’ll start receiving texts about concerts that might interest you. To access the pre-sale, simply follow the link you received via SMS, click the ‘Send Me Code’ button and you will then receive a pre-sale code via SMS.

Codes are usually sent within a few minutes, but this can be longer if demand is high. Presale codes are unlimited and are available from the concert announcement until the day the presale tickets become available.

Spotify presale

There are plenty of benefits to having a Spotify account. The streaming giant keeps track of which artists and bands you listen to the most, and will often reward your listening with “gifts” from the artist, sent via email.

Sometimes these gifts may include a unique pre-sale code if the artist has an upcoming show with a Spotify pre-sale. Make sure your email notifications are turned on so you don’t miss a thing.

For more on streaming services, take a look at our Spotify vs Amazon Music guide as well as the best Apple Music deals.

Live Nation presale

Similar to Ticketmaster, you must create a Live Nation account to receive email alerts about any upcoming Live Nation pre-sales.

Conveniently, you can use the same login information as your Ticketmaster account to log into your Live Nation account.

All you have to do is log into Live Nation at the time the presale goes live and there will be an opportunity for you to access it.

Place presale

Sometimes individual venues will hold their own presale for a show or artist. Usually, if you join the venue’s mailing list, they will send you a direct link to access the venue’s presale.

For more on live music tips, check out our guides on how to beat the Ticketmaster queue, how to get cheap concert tickets and what are AMEX pre-sales? Plus the best comedians on tour in the UK.