When tickets for Taylor Swift's 'Eras' tour went on sale last fall, it was one of the most chaotic events in concert history. Millions of fans hung out in virtual waiting rooms, waiting for the opportunity to buy tickets.
Owing to unprecedented demand, Ticketmaster's website crashed during the pre-sale and only a small fraction of fans secured tickets to the 2023 tour. The ordeal was so messy that Ticketmaster canceled the official ticket offering, and the Justice Department initiated an investigation.
In the days after the pre-sale, Taylor Swift fans were left asking:
- Did you get Taylor tickets?
- How do you get tickets if you didn't get them in November?
- When is the best time to buy Taylor Swift tickets for 2023?
In this guide, we'll cover the best time to buy tickets, factors that affect ticket prices, and tips for purchasing tickets.
Where to Get Tickets Today
If you didn't purchase tickets from Ticketmaster last year, the only way to get tickets for the 2023 tour is to purchase them from a secondary seller. RateYourSeats.com is a secondary ticket website and tickets are available for each of Taylor Swift's remaining shows.
Ticket prices on the secondary market fluctuate based on demand. For some concerts, secondary ticket prices are cheaper than the face value offered at Ticketmaster and other primary sellers. Unfortunately, the huge demand for Taylor Swift tickets has led to surging prices on secondary platforms.
When to Buy Taylor Swift Concert Tickets
Generally speaking, there are five main shopping windows for concert tickets. These include:
- Pre-sale
- General on-sale
- Between the general on-sale and 30 days before the concert
- 7-30 days before the concert
- Within 7 days of the concert
Each of these shopping windows acts like its own market and ticket prices can vary greatly between each window.
Now that we have data from the first five stops on the tour, we have a pretty good idea of the best time to purchase tickets.
Are you ...Ready For It?
The best time to buy Taylor Swift tickets for the 'Eras' tour is 3-5 days before the concert.
This is according to secondary ticket price data compiled from her stops in Phoenix, Dallas, Tampa, Houston and Atlanta.
Buying 3-5 Days Before the Show
For the shows we analyzed, 75% of them had price drops 3-5 days before the show. So if the show was on a Friday, prices would begin dropping Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
It's likely that sellers are slashing prices at this time to ensure that their tickets sell. And there's enough inventory to balance out the demand from buyers.
But you don't want to wait too long...
For 50% of shows, ticket prices increased the day before the show and the day of the show
Waiting Until the Last Minute to Buy
One of our favorite ticket-buying strategies is to wait until the day before a concert - or the day of. Sellers usually get desperate to unload their seats, and it's a good time to find a bargain.
But if this tour has taught us anything, it's that we should expect the unexpected. For half the shows we looked at, ticket prices went up on the day of the show or the day before. This suggests that more people are employing the "wait it out" strategy, but there aren't enough tickets to supply them all. This gives the control back to the sellers and prices tick up.
Best Time To Buy Tickets For Each Remaining City
- Nashville: May 3-4 (2023)
- Philadelphia: May 7-11
- Boston: May 14-18
- New York (MetLife Stadium): May 21-25
- Chicago: May 28-Jun 1
- Detroit: June 4-7
- Pittsburgh: June 11-14
- Minneapolis: June 18-21
- Cincinnati: June 25-28
- Kanas City: July 2-5
- Denver: July 9-12
- Seattle: July 16-19
- San Francisco: July 23-26
- Los Angeles: July 31-Aug. 6
Don't Miss Taylor's First Full Tour in Five Years
Scoring the best deals on Taylor Swift concert tickets requires planning and strategy, but it's well worth the effort to see one of the world's most popular artists live.
By timing your purchase, understanding the factors that affect ticket prices, and following our tips, you can save money and get the best seats possible.
Don't miss out on the chance to experience Taylor Swift on the unforgettable 'Eras' tour.
