Christopher BarrettOn the back of record annual revenue and earnings last year, Deutsche Entertainment AG (DEAG) has reported a steady start to 2026 but is expecting reduced full-year results.
The pan-European promoter, ticketing and venue giant that counts the UK’s KMJ Entertainment among its many interests, said it expects revenue for the current financial year to be less than last year’s record result due to the “typical volatility in live entertainment” and DEAG’s event calendar.
DEAG reported €6.5m in EBITDA for the first half of this year, while revenue for the six-month period amounted to €157.4m compared to the €155.4m gained during the same period last year. During the period DEAG promoted concerts, tours and live events featuring acts including Iron Maiden, Yungblud, Foreigner and Böhse Onkelz.
It expects ticket sales in 2026 to be in line with last year. Up to the end of June this year, DEAG said it had sold more than 6 million tickets for events in 2026 and 2027, with the majority sold via its own ticketing platforms.
Having achieved €490m in revenue last year, DEAG said it is on track to generate revenue of more than €400m in 2026. Its shows during the second half of the year include Zucchero, Duran Duran, Alison Moyet, Tokio Hotel and Judas Priest, while its spoken word & literary events businesses will stage events including former US President Barack Obama (pictured) and actor Michael Douglas.
“Our performance in the first half of the year was fully in line with our expectations,” said DEAG Group CEO Detlef Kornett. “With a strong event pipeline and high visibility for the coming quarters, we are looking ahead with confidence and believe we are well on the way to achieving our long-term goals.”