Max SteventonA group of organisations representing live event fans and consumers have written a letter to the European Commission calling for dynamic ticket pricing to be banned.
The four organisations involved are Euroconsumers, which represents countries such as Italy and Spain in defending consumer rights; the Football Supporters Network, a watchdog for European football fans; Live DMA, which represents live music venues, festivals and clubs; and Reset! network, a coalition of independent and cultural media organisations.
The letter urges commissioner Michael McGrath to include the banning of dynamic pricing in the EU’s upcoming Digital Fairness Act, aimed at enhancing consumer protection.
In the letter, the organisations stressed dynamic pricing, where prices rise as demand increases, is an unfair practice.
The group explained that high demand situations for tickets creates an “emotionally charged” experience with dynamic pricing “unfairly used to extract maximum revenue from consumers.”
While the organisations admitted dynamic pricing is beneficial in certain sectors, they stated live event consumers often have little alternative for providers, date and location. They also stated that it adds no extra value while creating mistrust between the consumer and provider.
The group said, “The organisations are calling on the European Commission to prohibit dynamic pricing in live entertainment under the Digital Fairness Act. Such a step would ensure transparent, fixed ticket prices, restore consumer trust, and safeguard access to culture and sport for all, not just the highest bidders.”
Following widespread concerns about the Oasis Live ’25 ticket onsale in the UK, consumer watchdog the CMA launched an investigation last year into Ticketmaster’s methods. It was widely reported that Ticketmaster used dynamic pricing but the CMA found no evidence that it was used.