How to Get Festival Tickets Early: Proven Strategies to Secure Your Spot

Festival season is one of the most anticipated times of the year for music lovers and partygoers, but the excitement of attending a festival can quickly turn to disappointment if you’re unable to get tickets. Whether you’re trying to attend Glastonbury, Coachella, or Tomorrowland, festival tickets sell out quickly – often within minutes. To secure your spot, you need a strategy.

This article will guide you through how to get festival tickets early, ensuring you never miss out on your favorite events again. From signing up for presales to leveraging fan club memberships and knowing the right timing, these tips will help you get ahead in the ticket-buying race.

Why Festival Tickets Sell Out So Fast

In recent years, the demand for festival tickets has skyrocketed, with many events selling out in record time. Festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella attract massive crowds, and with only a limited number of tickets available, the competition is fierce.

There are a few reasons why festival tickets are so hard to come by:

High Demand: Major festivals attract international crowds and music lovers from all over the world. With limited ticket numbers, demand outstrips supply almost immediately.
Scalpers and Bots: Unfortunately, automated bots and scalpers often buy up large amounts of tickets to resell them at inflated prices, making it harder for genuine fans to secure tickets.
Presales and Reserved Tickets: Many festivals offer presale tickets to members of fan clubs, credit card holders, or specific groups, leaving fewer tickets available for the general public sale.

With these challenges in mind, knowing how to get festival tickets early can be a game-changer. Let’s look at some strategies to improve your chances of snagging those coveted tickets.

One of the most effective ways to get festival tickets early is to take advantage of presales. Festivals often offer presales before the general ticket release, giving fans the chance to secure tickets in advance. However, access to presales is typically limited, so you’ll need to act fast.

Here’s how you can qualify for presale access:

Join the Festival’s Mailing List: Many festivals provide presale codes or links to their newsletter subscribers. Sign up for the mailing list of the festivals you’re interested in to receive updates and presale information.
Fan Club Memberships: Some festivals offer early ticket access to members of artist fan clubs. If your favorite headliner has a fan club, it might be worth joining to get early access.
Follow Festival Social Media Channels: Festivals often announce presales and release codes via their social media platforms. Keep an eye on official festival accounts for exclusive announcements.
Credit Card Presales: Certain credit card companies, such as American Express, offer presale opportunities for cardholders. Check with your credit card provider to see if they partner with any festivals you’re interested in attending.

Presale access often opens before the general public sale, so take advantage of these opportunities to get ahead of the crowd.

Set Up Ticket Alerts

One of the most frustrating aspects of trying to get festival tickets is not knowing exactly when they go on sale. Tickets can drop suddenly, and if you miss the announcement, it could cost you your chance to attend.

To avoid this, set up ticket alerts through trusted platforms and festival websites. Here’s how:

Ticketmaster Alerts: Sign up for notifications through Ticketmaster or other ticketing platforms like See Tickets or Eventbrite. They’ll send you reminders when tickets go on sale, helping you stay in the loop.
Google Alerts: Set up Google Alerts for keywords like “Glastonbury tickets on sale” or “Coachella presale” to receive email notifications when new articles or pages are published on the topic.
Mobile Notifications: Many ticketing apps offer push notifications. Download the apps for popular ticket sellers and festivals, and enable notifications to ensure you don’t miss a release.

By staying informed, you can prepare to purchase tickets the moment they become available.

Create an Account in Advance

Before tickets go on sale, make sure you’re prepared. Creating an account on the ticketing platform ahead of time can save you precious minutes during the buying process, which can make all the difference.

Here’s what you should do:

Create or Update Your Account: Make sure you have an account set up on the website where tickets are being sold. Log in before the sale starts to save time.
Save Payment Information: Add your payment information to your account ahead of time to avoid fumbling for your credit card during checkout.
Double-Check Your Shipping Address: If physical tickets are being mailed, ensure your address is up to date.

By streamlining the process, you’ll be able to purchase tickets as quickly as possible, reducing the risk of them selling out before you complete the transaction.

Use Multiple Devices

When tickets are in high demand, time is of the essence. To increase your chances of getting festival tickets early, consider using multiple devices to access the ticketing website. This can help you get into the queue faster and provide backup options in case one device crashes.

Here’s how to make the most of this strategy:

Use Different Browsers and Devices: Open the ticketing website on multiple devices, such as your laptop, phone, and tablet. You can also use different browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari) to increase your chances of getting through.
Connect to a Stable Internet Connection: A fast and reliable internet connection is essential. Avoid using public Wi-Fi, as it can slow down your purchase process. Instead, use a high-speed home or office network.

Just be careful not to overload the system by refreshing too frequently or opening too many tabs on the same device, as this can cause you to be temporarily blocked from the website.

Know the Ticket Release Time

Knowing the exact time tickets will be released is crucial. Many festival tickets go on sale at specific times, such as 10 AM local time, so make sure you’re ready to go when the clock strikes.

Here are a few tips to ensure you’re on time:

Time Zone Awareness: Be mindful of the time zone the festival is based in. If you’re purchasing tickets for an international festival, convert the sale time to your local time zone so you don’t miss out.
Set Multiple Alarms: Set alarms 15 minutes before the tickets go on sale to give yourself time to log in and get ready. Set another alarm right at the sale time so you don’t get distracted.
Log In Early: Some ticketing websites may place you in a waiting room before tickets go live. Log in 10-15 minutes early to ensure you’re in the virtual queue as soon as tickets become available.

The more prepared you are, the better your chances of getting tickets at the exact release time.

Master the Queue System

Many major festivals use a queue system to manage the overwhelming demand for tickets. Understanding how the queue works can give you a strategic advantage.

Here’s how to navigate the ticketing queue:

Stay Patient: Once you’re in the queue, avoid the temptation to refresh the page, as this can cause you to lose your place. Most queues will update automatically, so just sit tight and wait for your turn.
Have Backup Plans: If you’re trying for multiple festivals, have a plan B in case you don’t get tickets for your first choice. Keep another tab open for an alternative festival or date, or even consider secondary sales options (more on this later).
Don’t Rely on a Single Queue: If possible, have friends or family members log in to the queue on their devices as well. This increases the chances that one of you will get through faster.

Once you’ve made it through the queue, be quick to select your tickets and complete the purchase, as tickets can still sell out during the checkout process.

Join a Festival Waiting List

If you miss out on early tickets, don’t lose hope. Many festivals offer waiting lists for fans who weren’t able to purchase tickets in the initial sale. While joining a waiting list doesn’t guarantee you’ll get tickets, it does give you a second chance if more tickets become available.

Here’s how to join a waiting list:

Visit the Festival’s Official Website: Most festivals will have an official waiting list on their website. Sign up with your email address to be notified if more tickets are released.
Check Secondary Ticketing Platforms: Some official ticketing platforms, like Ticketmaster, offer verified resales, which allow fans to sell tickets they can’t use. Be cautious when using third-party resale sites, as not all are legitimate.
Stay Alert for Additional Ticket Releases: Some festivals may release additional batches of tickets closer to the event date. Keep an eye on festival updates and newsletters to be the first to know when more tickets become available.

While waiting lists aren’t foolproof, they can be a lifeline for last-minute tickets.

Leverage Fan Clubs and Street Teams

Festival organizers often reward fan loyalty with early ticket access through fan clubs, street teams, and exclusive groups. These insider connections can give you a head start on securing festival tickets before the general public.

Here’s how to get involved:

Join the Artist Fan Club: Many artists offer fan club memberships that include early access to tickets for festivals they’re headlining. This is especially useful if you’re a die-hard fan of a particular performer.
Become a Festival Ambassador: Some festivals offer ambassador programs, where you can earn perks like early ticket access by promoting the event on social media or selling tickets to friends. Research if your favorite festivals have these opportunities and sign up if available.
Follow Influencers and Partner Brands: Some festivals partner with influencers, brands, or media outlets to offer exclusive presale opportunities. Follow these accounts on social media to catch any special promotions or giveaways.

Building connections within the festival community can open doors to early ticket access, giving you an edge over the general public.

Stay Organized and Plan Ahead

The key to securing festival tickets early is organization. With so many steps involved, it’s essential to plan ahead and stay on top of the latest news and presale announcements.

Here’s how to keep things organized:

Create a Calendar: Mark the dates and times of ticket releases for the festivals you’re interested in attending. Include presale dates, general sale dates, and any secondary ticket release dates.
Set Up Reminders: Use your phone or calendar app to set reminders in the days leading up to the ticket release. This ensures you’re always ready to act when tickets become available.
Communicate with Friends: If you’re attending a festival with friends, coordinate your ticket-buying efforts. Multiple people trying to buy tickets increases your chances of success.

The more organized you are, the less stressful the ticket-buying process will be.

FAQs

How early can I get festival tickets?

You can often get festival tickets early by signing up for presales, joining fan clubs, or using credit card presale opportunities. These typically take place before general public ticket sales.

What is a ticket presale?

A presale is an early access period when a select group of people, such as newsletter subscribers or fan club members, can purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

How can I improve my chances of getting tickets?

To improve your chances, sign up for presales, use multiple devices, set up ticket alerts, and log in early. Having your payment and shipping information ready will also help speed up the process.

What should I do if tickets sell out?

If tickets sell out, join the festival’s waiting list, check verified resale platforms, or consider ambassador programs that may offer additional ticket access closer to the event.

Is it safe to buy festival tickets from third-party sellers?

Be cautious when buying tickets from third-party sellers. Stick to verified resale platforms like Ticketmaster to avoid scams and inflated prices.

How do I know when tickets go on sale?

Sign up for the festival’s mailing list, set Google alerts, or follow their social media accounts to stay informed about ticket release dates and presales.

Final Words

Getting festival tickets early requires careful planning, quick action, and a little luck. By following these strategies, including signing up for presales, setting up alerts, and using multiple devices, you can significantly improve your chances of securing tickets to your favorite festivals. Stay organized, be patient, and don’t give up if you miss the first round of sales – with persistence, you’ll be on your way to dancing under the festival lights in no time.