Key financial results
- Management did not give detailed revenue or EPS figures on the call.
Business segment results
- Concerts: Concerts attendance exceeded 60 million for the quarter, up almost 20% globally.
attendance of over 60 million. I think the first time we've had that level of attendance, up almost 20%.
- Concerts: International concerts grew 29% across every region, with Latin America, Europe, and Asia all up at least 15%.
International, in particular, was up 29% in every one of the regions. So Latin America, Europe, Asia, all up at least 15%.
- Concerts: North America had a strong amphitheater performance, with September marking the largest amphitheater month overall.
In North America, we had a very good amphitheater, including September being our largest amphitheater month overall.
- Concerts: Global stadium shows drove over half of the fan growth, with increases in both North America and internationally.
Stadiums drove over half of the global fan growth, up measurably in both North America and internationally.
- Ticketing: Ticketing experienced strong results, with 95% of its growth driven by concerts.
Ticketing business, 95% of their growth was from concerts.
- Ticketing: Ticketmaster added over 20 million net new clients internationally so far this year.
Ticketmaster has also continued to add a number of clients, particularly internationally, with over 20 million net new tickets so far this year.
- Ticketing: Ticketmaster saw strong third-quarter onsales for next year's shows, including Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, Oasis, and Metallica.
- Venue Nation: Venue Nation is having a great year and expects about 75 million fans to attend venues worldwide.
Venue Nation is having a great year. We expect to have about 75 million fans attend our venues worldwide.
Capital allocation
- Management deferred questions regarding partner shares of venue capital expenditures and cash flow impacts to the upcoming Investor Day.
Industry trends and dynamics
- Global consumer demand for shows and spending at venues remained strong despite press concerns.
we are absolutely seeing continued strong consumer demand globally in all these venues.
- Secondary ticketing headwinds were offset by increased performance on the sports side.
we have some offsets with increased performance on the sports side. So we're not seeing that headwind for the year.
Competitive landscape
- Ticketmaster continued to add clients internationally, contributing to over 20 million net new tickets added this year.
Ticketmaster has also continued to add a number of clients, particularly internationally, with over 20 million net new tickets so far this year.
Macroeconomic environment
- Management did not discuss broader macroeconomic factors beyond consumer spending resilience.
Growth opportunities and strategies
- Venue Nation is expanding through organic openings and acquisitions, supported by strong B2B sponsorship sales.
Sponsorship sales on the B2B side continuing to do well.
Financial guidance and outlook
- Concerts fan attendance guidance was increased to close to 180 million for the full year.
fan growth in our concert business, which we've now guided towards close to 180 million.
- Ticketmaster full year guidance was raised to high single-digit AOI growth.
we took up our guidance to now expect high single-digit AOI growth for the year.
- Concerts full year AOI growth is expected to hit double digits.
we expected to see AOI growth for the full year in concerts hitting double digits, and we reiterated that today.
Q3 2026 results
| Metric | Result | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Concert attendance | over 60 million | up almost 20% |
| International fan growth | 29% | up in every region |
How management sounded
Balanced (+35 on our -100 to +100 scale). Management highlighted robust global consumer demand, record attendance, and raised full-year guidance for Ticketmaster. Management sounded more upbeat than on 20% of the 302 calls we cover; most companies sound positive on their own calls, so the comparison says more than the label.
Read the analyst Q&A summary and guidance and outlook for this call.
What to watch before the next call
- Preopening costs for Venue Nation as venues ramp up over the next few years
- Puts and takes of stadium fan economics and partner share of venue CapEx
Earlier calls
- Q2 2026 (Jul 30, 2026), tone Balanced: Live Nation reported double-digit fan growth across its global business, driving revenue, AOI, and margin expansion for the second quarter.
