Ticketed events
All your usual consumer rights and protections apply to ticketed events, but there are some things you can do to further protect yourself.
Protect yourself when buying tickets
- Only purchase from the authorised ticket seller.
- Consider paying by credit card—if something goes wrong, contact your bank to ask about reversing the payment.
- Don’t pay online unless you’re on a secure website.
- Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the sale, the cancellation and refund policy and how you'll receive the tickets.
- Know the full cost, including any currency conversion, taxes, postage, delivery fees and packaging.
- Understand the business’s privacy policy and don't provide your information unless it's legitimately required and you know the business is reputable.
Be careful when buying tickets to events that:
- have no venue announced
- provide limited contact details
- don't have confirmed dates
- have unusual payment processes (e.g. no official ticketing agent, cash only, bank transfers)
- have received lots of complaints or bad reviews online
- have not confirmed a line-up of performers.
Ticket resale
Even if an event sells out quickly, we recommend you only buy tickets from the authorised seller.
If you buy tickets from someone other than the authorised seller you:
- risk breaching ticket scalping laws
- may find your ticket is invalid, is not accepted by the venue, or doesn't arrive at all
- are not guaranteed the same legal protections you have when buying from the authorised seller.
Ticket prices on resale websites aren't regulated. The prices are set by the people reselling the tickets.
Using ticket resellers
Ticket resellers are online businesses that resell event tickets. They must follow the same laws as other businesses, but also specific rules set out in the Electronic ticket resale service information standard 2022.
Ticket resellers must display information so consumers:
- know they're not buying from the authorised seller
- are told about any difference between the original ticket price and the resale price.
These rules only apply to businesses and don’t apply to private sales of tickets through online marketplaces.
Ticket scalping
For events at major Queensland venues, it's illegal to resell or buy a ticket at a price greater than 10% above the original ticket price.
Visit Stadiums Queensland to see a list of major venues and learn more about ticket scalping and how to report it.
Refunds
Significantly changed event
If the event is significantly different from what was advertised, you might be entitled to a refund.
You might also be able to get a refund if an event's date changes or there's a significant venue change after you've bought your ticket, and the change means you can't use your ticket.
Cancelled events
You have the right to a refund if you bought a ticket to a cancelled event, even if the terms and conditions on the ticket say you can’t get a refund. All your normal consumer rights apply.
You might also be able to claim compensation if you lost money because of the cancellation, which could include travel costs and accommodation. If you've lost money because a festival or event was cancelled, contact the ticket seller first.
Misleading promotions
If you bought a ticket to an event and it didn't go ahead as promoted, you may have the right to a full or partial refund.
This might be because:
- a headline act doesn’t perform
- the promoter didn’t have a liquor licence that they claimed they would
- the event isn’t open to all ages even though the promoter said it would be.
Read more about buying tickets to events.
Live Performance Australia code of practice
Event organisers who are members of Live Performance Australia (LPA) must follow a code of practice. This includes holding all ticket money in a separate account, which they can't access until after the event. This speeds up the refund process if an event is cancelled.
Most LPA events have conditions that limit your rights if you buy your ticket from an unauthorised re-seller (ticket scalper). The organiser may even cancel your tickets.