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Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 4 new, 11 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 12%, 9% constant currency: Revenue was $3.8 billion, up 12% as reported and 9% at constant currency, with Concerts, Ticketing and Sponsorship all growing. Source
  • AOI up 9% across segments: Adjusted operating income reached $371 million, up 9%, with each segment contributing. Corporate AOI costs were $47.9 million against $48.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Primary GTV up 14%: Primary gross transaction value grew 14%, with concerts accounting for most of the growth. Source
  • Sponsorship AOI up 21%: Sponsorship AOI rose 21% to $165 million, reflecting international festivals in South America and the growing venue portfolio. Source
  • Event deferred revenue reached $6.6B: Event-related deferred revenue was $6.6 billion, up 22%, which management described as the largest balance in company history. Source
  • Cash and free cash both up: Cash and cash equivalents were $9.1 billion, and free cash was $1.7 billion, both up from a year earlier. Source

“2026 is off to a powerful start, with first quarter revenue climbing 12% to $3.8 billion.”

Michael Rapino, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Concerts adjusted operating income (AOI) Sourcefull year 2026double-digit AOI growthKept
Amphitheater fan growth timing Sourcethird quarter 202670% of amphitheater fan growthNew
Sponsorship and advertising AOI Sourcefull year 2026double-digits growthNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$1.1 to $1.2 billionKept
Venue expansion and enhancement capex Sourcefull year 2026$800 to $850 millionKept
Venue investment cash requirements Sourcefull year 2026reduced by approximately $250 millionKept
AOI to free cash flow - adjusted conversion Sourcefull year 2026in line with or higher than 2025
Depreciation and amortization growth Sourcefull year 2026 vs. FY2512-15% growthRaised from 10%
Net interest expense Sourcefull year 2026$280 millionKept
Income tax expense Sourcefull year 202615-20% of AOI; cash taxes about 80% of that amountKept
Noncontrolling interest expense Sourcefull year 2026grow 25%Raised from increase by 20%
Accretion expense Sourcefull year 2026$160-180 millionKept
Share count Sourcefull year 2026no material change from 2025Kept
Preopening costs for venues under development Source2026approximately $50 millionKept
Run-rate AOI for venues opened in 2025 Sourceby 2028run-rate AOI by 2028, 20%+ IRRsKept
Run-rate AOI for venues opening in 2026 Sourceby 2029run-rate AOI by 2029, 20%+ IRRsKept
TD Coliseum show count Sourcefull year 202680 showsNew
Rogers Stadium show count Sourcefull year 2026 vs. inaugural year 2025up 40%New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Depreciation and amortization growth is now expected at 12-15%, up from 10%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Noncontrolling interest expense growth is now expected at 25%, up from 20%. Source
  • New guidance: Sponsorship AOI growth is now given as double-digits for the full year, where the prior report gave no figure. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year Ticketmaster AOI margin is now expected to be similar to last year. Source
  • New: Three venues were recently completed: Movistar Arena Santiago, Unipol Forum in Milan and IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, with about four million annual fan capacity combined. Source
  • New: In April the company raised about €610 million of long-term debt at 5.5% through an investment grade financing vehicle backed by major venues. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 12%, 9% constant currency: Revenue was $3.8 billion, up 12% as reported and 9% at constant currency, with Concerts, Ticketing and Sponsorship all growing. Source
  • AOI up 9% across segments: Adjusted operating income reached $371 million, up 9%, with each segment contributing. Corporate AOI costs were $47.9 million against $48.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Concerts revenue led the increase: Concerts revenue was $2.8 billion, the largest segment contributor, and Sponsorship & Advertising revenue rose 20% to $259 million. Source

Concerts and Venue Nation

  • Concerts AOI at $3 million: Concerts AOI was $3 million, or $12 million at constant currency, against $6.6 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Premium hospitality spending rising: The Vinyl Room premium hospitality rollout is delivering results so far this year, with per-fan spending figures reported at two venues. Source
  • Concerts tickets sold past 107 million: Tickets sold through April for 2026 Live Nation concerts reached over 107 million, up 11%, with double-digit growth across stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters and festivals. Source

“This cultural demand is driving record-breaking activity across our business.”

Michael Rapino, President and CEO

Ticketing and Ticketmaster

  • Ticketing AOI up 1%: Ticketing revenue rose 10% to $765 million and AOI rose 1% to $256 million, with fee-bearing tickets up 4% to 81 million. Source
  • Primary GTV up 14%: Primary gross transaction value grew 14%, with concerts accounting for most of the growth. Source
  • Ticketmaster volume through April: Ticketmaster fee-bearing tickets transacted through April for 2026 reached 138 million, up 9%, with GTV of $17 billion, up 15%. Source

Sponsorship and advertising

  • Sponsorship AOI up 21%: Sponsorship AOI rose 21% to $165 million, reflecting international festivals in South America and the growing venue portfolio. Source
  • Brand demand behind sponsorship: Management attributed sponsorship AOI growth to brand demand to connect with the global fan base. Source
  • 2026 sponsorship bookings advancing: Sponsorship commitments for 2026 were 85% booked as of the end of April, up double-digits. Source

“As we continue to expand our global footprint to meet this growing demand for physical connection, we are well positioned for long-term compounding double-digit growth.”

Michael Rapino, President and CEO

Demand and the order book

  • Event deferred revenue reached $6.6B: Event-related deferred revenue was $6.6 billion, up 22%, which management described as the largest balance in company history. Source
  • Ticketing deferred revenue up 29%: Ticketing deferred revenue was $368 million, up 29%, accounting for $5.5 billion of deferred ticketing gross transaction value. Source
  • Large-venue shows pacing higher: Large-venue shows for 2026 are pacing up high-single digits, with stadium, arena and amphitheater show counts all up year on year. Source

Reported results and costs

  • Acquisition expenses increased: Acquisition expenses were $69.4 million, against $29.7 million a year earlier. AOI excludes these costs along with depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation. Source
  • AOI reconciliation adds back legal item: The reconciliation from operating loss to AOI adds back a $450.0 million governmental investigations and litigation item and $32.8 million of stock-based compensation. Source
  • Net loss per share: Basic and diluted loss per share available to common stockholders was $1.85, compared with a loss of $0.32 a year earlier. Source

Cash, capital and balance sheet

  • Cash and free cash both up: Cash and cash equivalents were $9.1 billion, and free cash was $1.7 billion, both up from a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow - adjusted lower: Free cash flow - adjusted was $174.7 million, against $216.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Leverage at 3.6x: Leverage was 3.6 times, in line with historical levels, with a weighted average cost of debt of 4.2%. Source
  • First-quarter capital spending: Capital expenditures totaled $249 million in the first quarter, and full-year spend is expected to be $1.1 to $1.2 billion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • 2026 venue projects listed: Management listed two U.S. amphitheaters and one stadium in Guadalajara among 2026 major projects. Source
  • Stadium fan growth falls in second half: Management expects all stadium fan growth for 2026 to occur in the second half of the year. Source
  • Third-party arenas lead second quarter: Management expects third-party arenas to be the top driver of second-quarter fan growth. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Concerts fan attendance Source24 million, up 7%
Ticketing fee-bearing tickets Source81 million, up 4%
Live Nation concert tickets sold through April Sourceover 107 million, up 11%
Ticketmaster fee-bearing tickets and GTV through April Source138 million tickets, up 9%; GTV $17 billion, up 15%
Large-venue shows booked for 2026 Sourceover 85%
Sponsorship commitments booked for 2026 Source85%
Event-related deferred revenue Source$6.6 billion, up 22%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: A $450 million legal accrual impacted first-quarter operating income and earnings per share by $(1.93). The company excludes this item from AOI. Source
  • Operational: Ticketmaster recorded $30 million of expenses related to legal and operational improvements in the first quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said Concerts is on track to deliver double-digit AOI growth for the full year. Source
  • On track: Management said venues opened in 2025 are on track to reach run-rate AOI by 2028. Source
  • Ahead: Management said TD Coliseum is set to deliver 80 shows for the full year, surpassing initial projections. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.