Live Nation Books $8.5b in Record Q3 Revenue
After a massive summer concert season, Live Nation set a record with $8.5b in revenue in Q3, an 11% increase YOY. The company posted the same percentage gain in concert-specific revenue, to $7.3b, fueled in particular by high-performing stadium shows worldwide.
Live Nation has already transacted 26m tickets for shows in 2026, leading to a 37% jump in deferred revenue to $3.5b. The company also enjoyed 13% higher sponsorship revenue of $443m. Ticketmaster revenue soared 15% to $798m. Fan spending rose 8% at amphitheaters and 6% at major festivals.
International growth remains very strong, with territories like Mexico and Europe up double digits. In a first, more than half of the expected 160m total fans attending Live Nation concerts will be from outside the U.S.
Meanwhile, the company benefited from refinancing $1.9b of debt and increasing liquidity by $1.5b, which it says will provide the financial runway to continue its venue-expansion efforts.
Said Live Nation President/CEO Michael Rapino: “Strong fan demand drove another record quarter as we continue to attract more fans to more shows globally. With these tailwinds, 2026 is off to a strong start, with a double-digit increase in our large-venue show pipeline and increased sell-through levels for these shows. At the same time, we’re continuing to invest in new venues to grow the market, create jobs and give artists even more ways to reach fans, positioning Live Nation on a clear path for double-digit operating income and AOI growth this year and compounding at this growth level over the next several years.”
Live Nation has already transacted 26m tickets for shows in 2026, leading to a 37% jump in deferred revenue to $3.5b. The company also enjoyed 13% higher sponsorship revenue of $443m. Ticketmaster revenue soared 15% to $798m. Fan spending rose 8% at amphitheaters and 6% at major festivals.
International growth remains very strong, with territories like Mexico and Europe up double digits. In a first, more than half of the expected 160m total fans attending Live Nation concerts will be from outside the U.S.
Meanwhile, the company benefited from refinancing $1.9b of debt and increasing liquidity by $1.5b, which it says will provide the financial runway to continue its venue-expansion efforts.
Said Live Nation President/CEO Michael Rapino: “Strong fan demand drove another record quarter as we continue to attract more fans to more shows globally. With these tailwinds, 2026 is off to a strong start, with a double-digit increase in our large-venue show pipeline and increased sell-through levels for these shows. At the same time, we’re continuing to invest in new venues to grow the market, create jobs and give artists even more ways to reach fans, positioning Live Nation on a clear path for double-digit operating income and AOI growth this year and compounding at this growth level over the next several years.”
