As of October 2026, the UK has not banned reselling concert tickets above face value — but the government is actively working toward it. After a 2025 consultation on live event ticket resale, ministers committed to legislation making it illegal to resell tickets for more than their “original cost,” alongside a cap on resale-platform service fees. A draft bill appeared in the 2026 King’s Speech, but it is draft legislation only: pre-legislative scrutiny still lies ahead, and the cap is unlikely to become law before the 2027–28 parliamentary session. Here’s what the proposal contains, where it stands, and what it means for fans right now.
The Proposal in Plain English
The government’s plan, announced in November 2025 in its formal response to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation, would:
- Ban resale above face value. It would become illegal to resell tickets to concerts, theatre, comedy, sport, and other live events for more than the “original cost” — the original ticket price plus unavoidable fees, including service charges and delivery.
- Cap resale-platform service fees. A separate ceiling on the fees platforms can charge, to stop the price cap being undermined through inflated add-on costs.
- Limit bulk reselling. Sellers would be barred from reselling more tickets than they were entitled to buy in the original sale — aimed at industrial-scale touting.
- Put legal obligations on platforms. “Strict legal obligations” on resale platforms to police compliance, with enforcement penalties for failures.
The stated goal is blunt: officials said the reforms would “destroy the operating model of ticket touts,” and ministers claim the cap would save fans around £112 million a year. The policy fulfills a Labour manifesto pledge to “put fans back at the heart of live events.”
Where Things Stand (October 2026)
- January 2025: DCMS launches a consultation on live event ticket resale. One option floated: allowing resale up to 30% above face value.
- May 2026: The King’s Speech includes the policy only as draft legislation — pushing likely enactment back by at least a year.
- Summer 2026: The government’s Music Plan confirms the draft bill will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to make it “effective, enforceable, and future-proof.” Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy: “We will stamp out ticket touts who are causing misery in the industry.”
- September 2026: Reporting indicates the government is stepping up work on the bill, with the draft measure expected during the current parliamentary session — as campaigners clash with viagogo over 2027 Manchester arena tour listings priced at more than 1,000% above face value.
The bottom line: reselling above face value remains legal in the UK today. Nothing has taken effect, and the draft bill must survive scrutiny and full parliamentary passage first.
What “Face Value” Would Actually Mean
The proposal defines the cap as the ticket’s original cost — face value plus unavoidable fees such as service charges and delivery. So a £100 ticket with a £12.50 service charge and £2.50 delivery could legally be resold for up to £115, not £100. What wouldn’t count: optional add-ons or inflated platform fees — which is why the separate platform fee cap is part of the package. Open questions include how platforms will verify original prices, whether speculative listings get specific restrictions, and how rules apply to sellers operating outside the UK.
Who Supports It — and Who Warns Against It
| Camp | Who | Argument |
|---|---|---|
| Support | FanFair Alliance, 40+ major artists, Virgin Media O2 | A face-value cap destroys the profit motive behind industrial touting; O2 research found 2027 Manchester arena tickets listed at 1,000%+ above face value |
| Support | Live Nation / Ticketmaster | Says it already limits UK resale to face value; called the plan a major step forward |
| Caution | UK Finance (Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, Barclays) | Caps could push sales off regulated platforms onto social media, where fraud is higher and buyers turn to bank chargebacks |
| Caution | Resale platforms and analysts | Point to Ireland and parts of Australia, where restrictions coincided with black-market growth |
The government’s modelling claims £112 million in annual fan savings — but critics note it doesn’t quantify fraud, non-delivery, or lost consumer protections if transactions migrate to informal channels. Both sides agree on the scale of the problem: the Competition and Markets Authority found resale markups typically exceed 50%, and Trading Standards found tickets resold for up to six times face value.
What Fans Should Do Right Now
- The cap isn’t law — buy and sell as normal. Reselling above face value is still legal, and legitimate resale remains the safest way to offload tickets you can’t use.
- Expect the Oasis effect to continue. For Oasis’s 2027 tour, Celtic Park tickets hit resale listings above £1,700 against face values of £71.50–£263.50 — the exact scenario the cap targets. Until legislation passes, high-demand tours will keep producing these markups.
- Use regulated platforms. Marketplace money-back guarantees beat social-media sellers, whatever your view of the proposal.
- US readers: resale rules vary by state — see our state-by-state ticket resale law guide and the FTC’s junk-fees rule explainer. Timing a purchase? Check whether resale prices drop on show day.
How the UK Proposal Compares
| Market | Resale price rule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| UK (proposed) | Face value + unavoidable fees; platform fee cap | Draft bill; unlikely law before 2027–28 |
| Ireland | Profit resale banned for designated events | In force |
| France | Habitual resale above face value prohibited | In force |
| Australia (some states) | Resale above 10% over face value banned for declared major events | In force in some states |
| US | No federal cap; rules vary by state | State-by-state; see our 2026 guide |
FAQs
Is it illegal to resell tickets above face value in the UK?
Not yet. As of October 2026, no face-value cap is in force — the government has proposed one via draft legislation, but it hasn’t passed Parliament and is unlikely to become law before the 2027–28 session.
What does the UK face value resale cap proposal include?
A ban on reselling live event tickets above “original cost” (face value plus unavoidable fees), a cap on resale-platform service fees, limits on reselling more than originally purchased, and strict compliance obligations on platforms.
When will the UK ticket resale cap become law?
No firm date. The 2026 King’s Speech included only draft legislation, which must go through pre-legislative scrutiny first. Enactment is unlikely before the 2027–28 parliamentary session.
Why do banks oppose the resale price cap?
UK Finance — representing Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, and Barclays — warned a price ceiling could drive resale off regulated platforms onto social media marketplaces with weaker protections, increasing fraud and chargeback claims.
Which artists support the face-value cap?
More than 40 major artists signed an open letter to the Prime Minister, including Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Radiohead, and Sam Fender. The industry campaign group FanFair Alliance has been a leading supporter.
What should I do if I need to resell UK tickets now?
Sell as normal through a regulated resale platform — it’s still legal, and platform guarantees protect both sides. Fairly priced listings move fastest.
