Buying & on-sales · Ticket resale glossary
Presale Code
Also known as: Pre-sale password, Access code
A presale code is a password that unlocks access to a presale on the ticketing site. Without it, the presale tickets are hidden or locked until the general sale.
Codes come from many places: the artist's newsletter or fan club, a credit-card issuer, the venue, the promoter or a streaming platform. Some are shared publicly (one code for everyone), others are unique and tied to a single account — the model used by Verified Fan style registrations.
A code gives access but not a guarantee: tickets are still sold first come, first served behind a virtual queue, subject to the purchase limit.
Where presale codes come from
Every presale has an owner, and the code usually reaches buyers through that owner's channels. Knowing where to look for each stage of an on-sale is most of the work.
- Artist newsletter or fan club: sent by email or posted in the members' area a day or two before the presale.
- Venue and promoter mailing lists: sent to subscribers shortly before the sale, sometimes the same code for every show at that venue.
- Card presales: often no password at all; access is checked against the first digits of an eligible card number.
- Mobile and streaming partners: delivered in the partner's app to its users.
- Registration presales: unique codes or links texted to the fans selected through Verified Fan style sign-ups.
Shared codes vs unique codes
A shared code is a single word or number that works for anyone, often the album title or the artist's name. Once it circulates on social media or in a cook group, it gives almost no advantage, and the presale effectively becomes an early general sale with a larger queue.
A unique code is generated for one buyer and tied to their account, so it can be used only once and can't be passed on. Organisers use unique codes when they want to control who buys and to keep bots out.
How to use a presale code on the day
Sites ask for the code at different points. Some unlock the ticket list as soon as you type it on the event page; others ask for it after the virtual queue, at seat selection or at checkout.
- Log in to your ticketing account well before the sale and check that your payment details are saved.
- Keep the code copied and ready, and note whether it is case-sensitive.
- Join the waiting room before the sale opens, from one device and one tab.
- Enter the code when prompted, then choose tickets within the purchase limit for that presale.
Example
An artist sends a shared presale code to a newsletter with, say, 200,000 subscribers for a show with 5,000 presale tickets. Within an hour the code is posted publicly, and far more people than the newsletter list join the queue. The allocation is gone in minutes. For the next leg of the tour the same artist switches to unique codes sent to registered fans, and the queue is a fraction of the size.
What presale codes mean for resellers
Each valid code is one more chance to buy at face value before the general sale, which is why resellers track every presale on a tour rather than just the first. But a code only opens the door: tickets still go first come, first served, and the limits per account still apply.
Be careful with codes offered for sale. Fake or recycled codes are common, and unique codes used on someone else's account can lead to the order being cancelled.
Catch it with Eventory
Eventory alerts you when tickets go live or restock during a presale, so a valid code isn't wasted on a page you checked too late.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a presale code?
Codes come from whoever runs the presale: the artist's newsletter or fan club, the venue or promoter mailing list, a partner bank or mobile network, or a registration programme. Sign up to each channel before the presale date.
Can I use the same presale code more than once?
A shared code can usually be used by many people, but each account is still held to the presale's purchase limit. A unique code is normally single-use and tied to the account it was issued to.
Does a presale code guarantee tickets?
No. A code only gives access to the presale. Tickets are still sold first come, first served, and popular presales often sell out before everyone with a code reaches the front of the queue.
Is it legal to share presale codes?
Sharing a public code is generally not illegal, though it may break the presale's terms. Unique codes are tied to one account, and orders placed with someone else's code can be cancelled. Buying codes from strangers carries a high risk of fraud.
Why is my presale code not working?
The presale may not have started yet, the code may be for a different show or date, it may be case-sensitive, or a unique code may already have been used. For card presales, the card itself acts as the code.