Getting access to presale tickets for your favorite artists can be a great way to score seats before the general public has a chance to buy them all up. Many major ticket sellers like Ticketmaster use presale codes to give fans early access to shows. Here’s what you need to know about finding your Ticketmaster presale code.
What is a Ticketmaster presale code?
A Ticketmaster presale code is an access code that gives you the ability to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public. Presales allow you to beat the crowds and buy tickets to popular shows before they sell out.
Presale codes are usually randomly generated alphanumeric codes like “BESTFAN123” or “PRESALE2022”. They are released ahead of the presale to give fans a chance to prepare. The codes can unlock access to the presale through Ticketmaster online or through the Ticketmaster app.
Why do presale codes exist?
Presales allow the artist and promoter to sell tickets directly to their biggest fans first. It helps ensure that dedicated long-time fans and fan club members can get tickets before scalpers or other third parties buy them all up.
It also creates excitement and buzz leading up to the on-sale date. Fans try hard to get the presale code so they have that early chance at great tickets.
Where can I find my Ticketmaster presale code?
There are a few places where you can find Ticketmaster presale codes:
- The artist’s or band’s official website
- The artist’s or band’s official social media accounts
- The promoter’s social media accounts or email list
- Verified fan presales – Register ahead of time for a chance to get a code
- Music fan club or VIP member presales
- Local radio station websites or social media accounts
- Venue or theater email newsletters or social media
- Ticket presale websites like Presale Password
Artist/band website & social media
The performers will often share presale codes directly with their biggest fans first. Check their official website and social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in the days leading up to the presale.
Promoter accounts
Big concert promoters like Live Nation and AEG may hold their own presales for major tours. Follow their social accounts or sign up for email newsletters to try and score a code.
Verified Fan presales
For very popular tours, Ticketmaster runs Verified Fan presales. Fans register ahead of time and are randomly selected to receive a code to access the presale. This helps filter out scalpers and bots.
Fan club presales
Many musicians have official fan clubs that members can join, often for an annual fee. Fan club members frequently get access to presale code giveaways. Check the artist’s website to see if they have an official fan club to join.
Radio station presales
Local radio stations that are sponsoring concerts will often share presale codes over the air and online for their listeners. Follow stations on social media or check their website before the on-sale.
Venue presales
Sign up for email newsletters at your local concert venue or theater to get on their radar. When they host presales for upcoming shows, they’ll send codes directly to subscribed fans.
Presale password sites
There are websites like Presale Password that aggregate and share presale passwords. Fans report codes from different sources which get shared publicly on the site.
How to use your Ticketmaster presale code
Once you’ve gotten your hands on that precious presale code, here are the steps to use it:
- Pull up Ticketmaster on your desktop or mobile device and search for the event you want tickets for.
- Look for the Presale tab on the event page and click “Enter Promo Code.”
- Type or paste in your presale code and click Submit.
- The presale purchase page should unlock for you to shop for tickets.
- Select your ticket quantity and desired section.
- Complete checkout to secure your presale tickets!
You will likely need to create a Ticketmaster account if you don’t already have one. Make sure you are logged in and your payment info is saved to make the checkout process smooth.
Act quick, as presale ticket allotments tend to be limited. Have a backup option ready in case your first choice sells out. Also beware of the countdown clock, as presales generally end within 24 hours.
Tips for finding presale codes
Tracking down presale codes can take some work, but these tips can help:
- Follow fan accounts or hashtags – Other fans often share codes they find on social media.
- Check presale code sites – Aggregator platforms compile codes in one place.
- Sign up for presales – Ensure you get codes by registering for verified fan presales when available.
- Join fan clubs – Paid fan club membership can provide access to presales.
- Use a presale alert site – They can notify you as soon as codes are posted.
Beware of presale code scams
With presale codes in high demand, scammers do target eager fans looking for access. Here are some warning signs of a presale code scam:
- Asking you to pay for a code
- Codes that come via email from a non-official source
- Code seller claims to work for the band or venue
- Requests your credit card or other personal information
- Guarantees tickets along with the code
If it seems fishy in any way, avoid it. Only get codes directly from trusted official sources.
Use backup codes if needed
Since presale ticket supplies are limited, the first code you find may not always work. The tickets could sell out before you have a chance to check out.
When possible, try to have 1 or 2 backup codes on hand from different sources. That way if your first code fails, you can try a different one right away and still get presale tickets before they are gone.
Conclusion
Scoring those elusive Ticketmaster presale codes takes effort, but gives you a big advantage securing the best tickets. Tap into artist, promoter and venue sources to try and find valid codes. Be wary of scams along the way. Act fast once the presale starts to checkout before allocated tickets are gone. With smart preparation, you can unlock presale success and get to see your favorite acts live.
