About Presale Codes and how it all works
Hello, and welcome! With presale codes, you get the amazing advantage of buying tickets early for concerts, live sporting events, UFC fights, WWE wrestling, races, opera, and blockbuster theatrical events like Wicked, Shucked or arena ice-shows like Disney on Ice.
Every single week, Presale.Codes publishes thousands of new presale passwords, and we're thrilled to welcome new members to our community of event-goers.
Heads up: Our database is a living thing! It's constantly being updated in real-time to give you the most current information available.
We've been doing this for a while, and over the years, we've received some fantastic questions about how presales, codes, and tickets work. We've gathered the most common ones here to help you get started!
On This Page
- What is a presale password? A Complete Explanation
- Is it worth using a presale? The Pros & Cons
- How do I use a presale code when buying tickets?
- Is this legit? Like Really?
- Why are the presale codes for "members only"?
- How does your membership compare to other sites?
- What kinds of presales do you get codes for?
- What is a Fan Club Presale?
- Does every event have a presale?
- Do you sell tickets?
- Do you post information for concerts outside the US?
- What is a 'Ticket Delivery Delay'?
- What is your refund policy?
Q: What is a presale code for tickets? Tell me the truth. Simply.
A Presale Password (or "a presale code") is a special word or combination of letters and numbers that unlocks early access to a block of tickets before all tickets are released to the general public.
Think of it a little like a pass-word that grants access to a private ticket sale: giving you a head start to secure your spot, often with significantly less competition. 😉
But it's more than just a key. Presales are a fundamental part of the modern concert promotion industry, used by artists and promoters to reward loyalty, gauge demand, and build excitement for an event. Our job at Presale.Codes is to find, verify, and organize these "keys" so you can easily get a head start on securing your tickets on platforms like Ticketmaster, Live Nation, AXS, and others.
Why do Ticket Presales exist at all?
- To Reward Loyalty: The primary goal is to thank specific groups. Artists thank their dedicated fans, credit card companies thank their cardholders, and venues thank their local supporters and members.
- To Gauge Demand: A strong presale performance can tell promoters if a show is a hot seller, potentially leading them to add a second date before the general public sale even begins.
- To Drive Buzz: The exclusivity and urgency of multiple presales create a wave of excitement, ensuring an event is top-of-mind when the main sale begins.
The Most Common Types of Presales:
Not all presales are created equal. Understanding the different types helps you know which ones you might have access to:
- Artist Presale: Often the very first presale, these are for dedicated fans who subscribe to an artist's newsletter. Learn more
- Credit Card Presales: Major companies like American Express, Citi, and Capital One offer presales as a perk for their cardmembers.
- Promoter Presale: Promoters like Live Nation and AEG run their own presales. These codes are often generic (e.g., "VOCALS", "STUDIO") and are sent to their email newsletter subscribers or app users.
- Venue Presales: The local concert hall or arena offers a presale to its own mailing list subscribers. This is a great way to get access to shows in your area - sometimes these are sent out to Past Purchasers while others can be accessed by signing up for a newsletter.
- Spotify / Streaming Presales: Streaming services like Spotify reward an artist's top listeners with a unique presale code, sent directly via email - learn more here about Spotify presales.
- Sponsor / Brand Presale: Mobile carriers (like Rogers in Canada or Verizon in the US) or other corporate sponsors will offer presales to their customers as a loyalty benefit.
Q: Is it worth using a presale? The Pros & Cons
The short answer is: Yes, almost always. However, it's not a golden ticket to the front row every time. You need to approach a presale with the right strategy and a clear understanding of what you're up against.
✅ The Upside: Why Presales Are Your Best Bet
- Massively Reduced Competition: This is the single biggest advantage. During a general onsale for a major artist, you could be competing with over a million people. In a presale, you might only be competing against a few thousand.
- Peace of Mind: The general onsale can be a chaotic, high-stress experience. Securing tickets during a presale means you can relax, knowing your spot is confirmed.
- Your BEST Chance for High-Demand Shows: For superstar tours (think names like Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weeknd, Beyoncé, Metallica, Rammstein, Bad Bunny, The Rolling Stones), the vast majority of tickets are sold during presales. Waiting for the general public onsale often means facing an almost entirely sold-out venue.
🤔 The Catch: The Platinum Problem & Held-Back Inventory
This is the critical piece that every fan needs to understand. While a presale is a great opportunity, the system has complexities designed to maximize revenue.
- The "Platinum" Seats: The very best seats are often **not available** in a standard presale. Instead, they are designated as "Official Platinum" tickets and sold at a much higher, market-driven price.
- Held-Back Inventory: Promoters release tickets in waves, or "blocks." A presale does not grant you access to every available seat. Sometimes, different (and occasionally better) blocks of seats are released during later presales or the general onsale.
- The "Second-Tier" Presale: Because of the above, some presales can feel like you're only being offered less-desirable seats (side views, upper bowls). This is a strategy to sell those seats to diehard fans early, while holding back prime inventory to be sold as Platinum or to sponsors.
The Verdict & A Strategy
Despite the catches and gotchas, using a presale is an essential component. You just have to know how to play the game.
For a HIGH-DEMAND, MUST-HAVE show:
YES, use every presale you can. Your goal is simply to get in the door at face value. A face-value ticket in the 200s is infinitely better than no ticket at all or paying 5x on the resale market.
For a MID-DEMAND, NICE-TO-HAVE show:
YES, but be strategic. Use the first presale as a scouting mission. If you see great seats, grab them. If the seats are poor, you can risk waiting for another presale, as a better block of inventory might be released later.
Ultimately, a presale isn't a guarantee of A+ seats. It's a tool that gives you a powerful strategic advantage to beat the queue, reduce competition, and secure tickets at a fair price.
How do I use a presale offer code? Where do I type in the password?
It's super simple - once you find the event you're excited about on Presale.Codes, just copy the presale code. Then, head over to the official ticketing website, like Ticketmaster. When you go to select your tickets, you'll see a special box often labeled "Offer Code," "Presale Code," or looks like a little padlock icon 🔓.
- Just paste the password in the box, hit enter/next and you'll unlock the early ticket inventory.
- It's like a VIP entrance to the ticket line!
- Most sites will confirm that the code has been applied by showing you new seating options or an “unlocked” message.
- If the box isn’t visible right away, try clicking on “Unlock” or “Got an Offer Code?”—it’s usually just a click away.
Why are your presale codes for members only? Why are only some of them free?
This is a really important question-we keep our researched and collected presale passwords exclusive to members to protect their value.
Try thinking about it this way: If a presale code was posted publicly for the whole world to use, it wouldn't really be a "presale" anymore, would it? It would be a mad dash, just like the general sale, and the advantage of getting early access would be completely lost.
By making the codes available only to our dedicated membership, we ensure they remain a genuine key to getting in early. Our membership model preserves the value of the information for the people who value it most – you!
Q: How does Presale.Codes compare to other sites? Why choose us?
A: We're glad you asked! We know fans have choices, and we're confident that Presale.Codes offers the best overall experience. While other sites exist, our members choose us for a few key reasons.
First, we offer incredible value. Our membership is more affordable, meaning you get access to the same high-quality presale codes for less. Secondly, the real difference is how easy we make it for you. We designed our website to be fast, clean, and simple. Our powerful search helps you locate the exact code you need in seconds, without clicking through confusing pages. It's the same crucial information, just delivered in a more consistent and centralized way.
Q: Is this legit? Really?
A: We totally get it, you want to be sure! And yes, we are 100% legit. We've been helping fans get early tickets since 2014 and have built a pretty good reputation - but you don't have to take our word for it! We encourage you to check out our positive reviews from sites like ScamAdviser, find real user feedback in this Reddit discussion, and see features on various music blogs. We've gathered some of these for you on our press page!
Q: What kinds of presales do you get codes for?
A: All sorts! Presales come in many flavors, and we hunt them all down. You'll find Artist presales for fan clubs, Venue presales for people on a concert hall's mailing list, and credit card presales for holders of cards like American Express or CITI. We also list presales from promotional channels like Spotify, Live Nation, and many more.
Q: What is a Fan Club Presale? How do 'Unique Presale Codes' work?
A: This is a special perk for the most dedicated supporters! A Fan Club presale is an early ticket opportunity reserved exclusively for official members of an artist's fan club. Sometimes, these work a little differently. Instead of a general password for everyone, the fan club might send each member a "unique" code that can only be used once. It's the artist's way of saying 'thank you' to their biggest fans by giving them the very first shot at tickets.
Q: Does every event have a presale? An offer code to go with it?
A: We wish! While a huge number of events do have presales, it's not a guarantee for every single one. The decision to hold a presale is up to the artist, venue, or promoter. Smaller shows or certain niche events might skip the presale process and go straight to a general public on-sale. We list every presale we can find, so if you don't see one for your event here, it likely doesn't have one.
Q: Do you sell tickets? You must sell tickets, right?
A: Great question, but no, we do not sell any tickets ourselves. Think of us as your knowledgeable friend who has all the inside info! Our job is to provide you with the presale codes and information you need to buy early. You'll always complete your actual ticket purchase securely and officially through primary ticket sellers like Ticketmaster or Live Nation.
Q: Do you post event information for concerts outside the US? What about Europe?
A: Our main playground is the United States and Canada, so that's where you'll find our most comprehensive lists. That said, we know music is global! So, when major artists announce big European tours or other international events, we do our very best to hunt down those codes for our members, too. It's always worth a search!
Q: What is a 'Ticket Delivery Delay'?
A: If you see this notice, don't panic! A 'Ticket Delivery Delay' is a modern security measure used by ticketing companies to combat bots and scalpers. It simply means that even though your purchase is confirmed, the actual scannable tickets (with the barcode or QR code) won't be sent to your account until much closer to the event date—often just 24-48 hours before the show. It's a way to ensure real fans get the tickets, and it's very common for high-demand events. Your tickets are safe and sound!
Q: What is your refund policy? Memberships & renewals
A: We do refunds within 7 days of purchase of a membership or renewal.