Christopher BarrettLive Nation Entertainment (LNE) said it enjoyed an 11% year-on-year rise in revenue during Q3, reaching a record $8.5 billion.
The same period saw the dominant global promoter, venue operator and Ticketmaster owner achieve an operating income of $793 million, up 24% on Q3 last year, while deferred revenue was up 37% to $3.5bn. Attendance at its ‘major’ festivals was up 6%, year-to-date.
LNE reported a record stadium show count, up 60% globally, and CEO Michael Rapino (pictured) said he expects 2026 to be a “very, very strong stadium year again”. He also pointed out that attendance at events across LNE’s international markets is set to be greater than in the US.
It said ticket sales for concerts in the first nine months of 2025 were up 4% to 150m, tracking towards 160m for the full year. LNE also reported that early sales for 2026 shows are robust, with more than 26m already sold.
“Strong fan demand drove another record quarter, as we continue to attract more fans to more shows globally,” said Rapino. “With these tailwinds, 2026 is off to a strong start with a double-digit increase in our large venue show pipeline and increased sell-through levels for these shows.
“At the same time, we’re continuing to invest in new venues to grow the market, create jobs, and give artists even more ways to reach fans, positioning Live Nation on a clear path for double-digit operating income and AOI growth this year and compounding at this growth level over the next several years.”