How to Get Presale Codes for Concerts in the UK (2026 Guide)

You've been waiting months for your favourite artist to announce a UK tour. They finally do — and by the time general sale opens, it's already sold out. Tickets are on resale sites for triple the price, and you're sat there wondering how everyone else got in before you. The answer, almost every time, is presale codes.

This guide covers exactly how presales work in the UK, where to find codes, and what you can do right now to make sure you're first in the queue next time.

TL;DR

• Most UK concert presales run through Ticketmaster, and codes come from artist mailing lists, O2 Priority, Spotify, or venue memberships.
• Artist presales typically go live 2–3 days before general sale — sign up to mailing lists and follow socials to catch announcements.
• O2 Priority is one of the most reliable presale sources in the UK, even if you're not on O2 (virtual SIMs work).
• Presale codes are often generic, not unique — meaning the same code works for everyone who has it.
• Set up free presale alerts on Evnt Central so you never miss an on-sale date or code drop.

What is a presale code?

A presale code is a password that gives you early access to buy tickets before they go on general sale. Presales usually open 24–72 hours before the public on-sale date, and they're run by the ticketing platform (most often Ticketmaster in the UK) on behalf of the artist, promoter, or a sponsor.

There are a few different types. Artist presales are the most common — these are codes sent out by the artist's team, usually to fans on their mailing list. Then you've got platform presales like O2 Priority or Three+, venue presales from places like the O2 Arena or AO Arena, and occasionally Spotify or YouTube presales tied to your listening history.

The key thing to understand: presale doesn't guarantee you a ticket. It guarantees you access to the queue before everyone else. You still need to be quick, especially for massive tours.

How do I find presale codes for UK concerts?

The most common sources are artist mailing lists, mobile network apps like O2 Priority and Three+, streaming platforms, and venue newsletters. Here's how each one works:

1. Artist mailing lists — Sign up on the artist's official website. This is the single most reliable way to get artist presale codes. Most artists send codes via email 12–24 hours before the presale window opens.

2. O2 Priority — If you're on O2, you get access to Priority presales through the O2 Priority app. These often cover the biggest tours and festival line-ups in the UK. More on this below.

3. Three+ — Three mobile customers get access to presales through the Three+ app, which has grown its music offering significantly over the past year.

4. Spotify/YouTube presales — Occasionally, Ticketmaster partners with Spotify or YouTube to offer presales to fans who've streamed an artist heavily. You'll get an email or in-app notification if you qualify.

5. Venue mailing lists — Venues like the O2 Arena, Manchester AO Arena, OVO Hydro, and others run their own presales for shows at their venue. Sign up to their newsletters directly.

6. Fan clubs and memberships — Some artists run paid fan clubs that include presale access as a perk. Taylor Swift's Eras Tour used Ticketmaster's Verified Fan system, and more artists are moving towards similar models.

If you don't fancy tracking all of this manually, Evnt Central pulls together presale dates, times, and codes in one place — free to use, and you can set alerts for specific artists.

Are presale codes unique or can anyone use them?

Here's something a lot of people don't realise: most presale codes in the UK are generic. That means the same code works for everyone. If an artist sends out a code like "TOURNAME2026" to their mailing list, anyone with that code can use it — it's not tied to your email or account.

This is why presale codes end up on social media within minutes of being sent out. It also means that if you miss the email, a quick search on Twitter/X or Reddit will usually turn up the code.

The exception is Verified Fan presales, which Ticketmaster has been pushing more aggressively. With Verified Fan, you register in advance, Ticketmaster verifies you're a real person (not a bot), and you get a unique code tied to your account. These are becoming more common for high-demand tours, but they're still not the norm for most UK shows.

How does O2 Priority work for concert presales?

O2 Priority is arguably the best presale source in the UK for sheer consistency. If you're an O2 customer, you get free access to presales through the O2 Priority app. These presales typically open on a Wednesday, a couple of days before general sale on Friday.

The trick that a lot of people use: you don't need to be a paying O2 customer. You can get a free O2 Pay As You Go SIM, activate it, and that's enough to access the Priority app. Some people use an eSIM or virtual SIM purely for this. O2 doesn't check whether you're actually spending money on the network — you just need an active O2 number linked to your account.

Once you're in the app, presales are listed by date. You tap through, it gives you a code or a direct link to the ticketing page, and you're in. Simple as that.

Worth noting: O2 Priority presales often have a ticket limit of 2 per transaction, which is lower than the general sale limit. Plan accordingly if you're buying for a group.

Do presale codes work on See Tickets, DICE, and AXS?

Yes, but the process varies by platform. See Tickets handles a large chunk of festival and mid-size venue tickets. They run their own presales, and codes are usually distributed through artist or promoter channels — the process is the same, you just enter the code on the See Tickets checkout page instead.

DICE works differently. There are no presale codes on DICE — instead, they use a waiting list system. You join the waiting list for an event, and when tickets become available, you get an offer. DICE's whole model is built around eliminating resale (tickets are mobile-only and non-transferable), so the presale dynamic is less relevant there.

AXS is another platform you'll run into, especially for arenas. They run presales similarly to Ticketmaster, with codes distributed through the usual channels.

The platform matters less than knowing when the presale opens and having the code ready. That's the bit most people get wrong — they have the code but miss the window because they didn't know the exact time.

How early should I join the queue?

For major tours, the presale queue on Ticketmaster usually opens 15–30 minutes before the listed start time. You'll land in a waiting room, and when the presale goes live, you're randomly assigned a place in the queue. Joining earlier doesn't give you a better spot — Ticketmaster randomises it at the start time.

That said, you absolutely should be in the waiting room before the presale opens. If you join after it's gone live, you'll be placed behind everyone who was already waiting.

A few practical tips that genuinely help:

• Use a laptop or desktop, not your phone. The Ticketmaster app is fine, but the desktop site tends to be more stable under heavy load.
• Don't refresh the page once you're in the queue. Refreshing can kick you to the back.
• Have multiple devices open if you can — your phone on the app, a laptop on the website. Different sessions get different queue positions.
• Be logged in to Ticketmaster before the queue opens, with your payment details saved. Every second counts once you get through.
• Know exactly what you want — which date, which section, how many tickets. Hesitating on the seat map is how you lose tickets.

Do presale codes expire?

Yes. Every presale has a specific window — usually 24–48 hours — and the code only works during that period. Once the presale window closes, the code is dead, and the remaining tickets roll into general sale (or the next presale tier).

Some presales also have a limited allocation. Even if the window is still open, if the presale allocation sells out, the code won't work anymore. This is why being there at the exact start time matters more than just having the code.

What's the difference between a presale and general sale?

A presale gives you access to tickets before the general public. General sale is when the remaining tickets (after all presale allocations have run) go on sale to everyone, no code needed.

Here's the thing people get wrong: presale tickets and general sale tickets come from the same pool. There isn't a secret stash of better seats held back for presale buyers. However, because presale buyers get first pick, they naturally end up with better seats — especially floor and lower tier sections that sell out fastest.

Some tours allocate a significant chunk of tickets to presales. It's not uncommon for 40–60% of tickets to be sold before general sale even opens. So if you're relying solely on general sale for a big tour, you're already at a disadvantage.

How do I avoid presale scams?

The simplest rule: never pay for a presale code. Since most codes are generic, anyone selling you one is selling something you could find for free. And if it's a Verified Fan code, it's tied to their account, so it won't work for you anyway.

Be cautious of social media accounts that claim to have "exclusive" codes in exchange for follows, sign-ups, or payments. Legitimate presale codes come from the sources listed above — artist mailing lists, mobile networks, venues, and streaming platforms.

If a code doesn't work, it's most likely expired or the allocation has sold out. It doesn't necessarily mean the code was fake.

Can I get notified when presale codes are released?

Yes — and setting up alerts is the single best thing you can do to stop missing presales. You need to be on the right mailing lists, following the right accounts, and know exactly when presales open so you can be there on time.

That's exactly why we built Evnt Central. You can track your favourite artists, get notified when presales are announced, and see all the key dates and codes in one place. It's free, and it takes about 30 seconds to set up.

Stop finding out about presales after they've already happened. Get your alerts sorted now, and next time a tour drops, you'll be ready.