The UK government has unveiled a landmark UK ticket resale ban that makes it illegal to resell live-event tickets for more than their original cost – a major step to curb the rampant profiteering in the secondary ticketing market
The new uk ticket resale ban law, announced on 19 November 2025, targets ticket touts, resale platforms, and even individuals listing tickets on social media.
Under the proposed rules, resellers will only be allowed to sell tickets at the “original ticket price plus unavoidable fees such as service charges.” Resale platforms will still be able to levy service fees, but those fees will be capped to prevent inflated pricing undermining the ban.
Crucially, individuals would be prevented from listing for resale more tickets than they were permitted to buy initially. Resale platforms will also have a legal obligation to police compliance, with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) empowered to issue fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover for serious breaches.
Why the UK Ticket Resale Ban Matters
The crackdown answers long‑standing concerns about bots and bulk buying by professional touts. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has framed the legislation as putting fans first, vowing to “shut down the touts’ racket” and make live events more accessible. According to government analysis, the average resale ticket could be £37 cheaper under the cap, potentially unlocking around 900,000 more tickets for genuine fans.
The CMA has previously backed stronger regulation of secondary ticketing. In March 2025, it publicly supported capping resale prices to protect consumers from unfair markups. The current legislation is grounded in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which gives the CMA new enforcement powers including financial penalties for non-compliant resale platforms.
Potential Challenges & Pushback
Not everyone supports the resale ban. Platforms like Viagogo and StubHub argue that strict caps could redirect fans toward unregulated “black market” exchanges, increasing fraud risk. Some resellers also warn that the legislation may make the business unviable – StubHub has suggested it may exit the UK market if the ban goes ahead.
There are also important exemptions. For example, Wimbledon debenture seats — which can trade for tens of thousands of pounds – may be excluded from the cap due to their classification as financial instruments.
Regulatory and Legal Context
This isn’t the first time the UK has sought to regulate the secondary ticketing market. The CMA called for stronger laws as far back as 2021, recommending limits on how many tickets a reseller can advertise and insisting that platforms take responsibility for fraudulent or misleading listings.
Meanwhile, earlier transparency rules already require ticket resellers to provide key information under the Consumer Rights Act – such as face value, seat location, and usage restrictions.
The latest legislation, however, goes further. It makes explicit demands on platforms to monitor sellers and enforce the new price cap. Non-compliance could result in legal action, including online interface orders or financial fines under the DMCC Act.
The Bigger Picture for Fans
For fan groups and many artists, the UK ticket resale ban represents a long-overdue reform. Campaigners like the FanFair Alliance have been pushing for tighter controls for years, arguing that unchecked scalping profits strip value from both fans and the live music ecosystem. High-profile musicians – including Radiohead, PJ Harvey, Coldplay and Dua Lipa – have publicly backed the legislation.
Critics, however, caution that pricing caps alone may not eradicate fraud. Without effective enforcement, some argue, the problem could simply shift to riskier or unregulated marketplaces. But supporters maintain that tougher regulation will rebalance power in live entertainment – making ticket resale fairer, more transparent, and more fan‑friendly.
