Organisers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games have unveiled a major update on ticket sales, announcing a pioneering lottery system designed to prioritise fairness and affordability for fans worldwide.
Key Details for the LA28 Ticket Lottery
The central pillar of the announcement is a random ticket lottery. Registration for this lottery will open on 14 January 2026 via the official LA28 tickets page. The registration window will remain active until 18 March 2026, with organisers confirming that signing up early confers no advantage. No payment is required to enter the draw.
Those selected in the initial lottery will be granted a time slot in April 2026 to purchase tickets for all Olympic sports. Anyone not chosen will be automatically entered into subsequent ticket release phases. Allison Katz-Mayfield, LA28’s senior vice president of Games delivery revenue, explained the rationale. She described the lottery as "the fairest way to ensure that the broadest number of people can get access to tickets and that no one is advantaged or disadvantaged," adding that it aims to thwart ticket brokers and automated bots.
A Strong Commitment to Affordable Pricing
In a significant move aimed at making the Games accessible, LA28 has made a firm pledge on pricing. At least one million tickets will be priced at just $28. Ms Katz-Mayfield emphasised this was a substantive offer, stating, "Every sport starts at $28 and that's not just lip service to a couple tickets in the corner of some venue, but a meaningful number of tickets."
Furthermore, organisers revealed that approximately one-third of all tickets will be priced under $100. This affordability drive stands in contrast to recent criticism levelled at high ticket costs for other major global sporting events, such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Community Engagement and Sales Timeline
In a nod to local engagement, the plan includes a special benefit for residents living near Olympic venues. Those who register for the lottery will also qualify for a dedicated presale, allowing them to purchase tickets ahead of the general public.
The overall ticketing timeline is notably ambitious, launching a full year ahead of the schedule used for the Paris 2024 Games. LA28's ticket sales are projected to generate around a third of the Games' total revenue target. The sales process will be managed by official providers AXS and Eventim, with all tickets issued digitally. Sales for the Paralympic Games are scheduled to follow in 2027.
Fans eager for further updates are encouraged to sign up for the official LA28 newsletter. With this early and transparent ticketing strategy, Los Angeles is setting a new standard for fan access ahead of the 2028 Olympic spectacle.
