Live Nation Q3 2026 revenue rises 19% to $10.1B
Nine-month revenue grew 14%, but operating income declined 25%; management expects nearly 180 million fans in 2026.
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $10,105.0 million, up 19% from a year earlier. Operating income was $892.0 million, up 13%, and adjusted operating income (AOI, a non-GAAP measure) was $1,179.3 million, up 14%. Attendance reached 61 million fans, up 19%, and fee-bearing ticket volume was 98 million, up 10%.
For the first nine months, revenue was $21,564.9 million, up 14%, while operating income fell 25% to $1,043.4 million from $1,393.9 million. The AOI reconciliation lists a $450.0 million item labeled governmental investigations and litigation for 2026; nine-month AOI was $2,367.3 million, up 9%. Operating cash flow was $2,100.4 million, up 45%, and adjusted free cash flow was $1,625.0 million, up 25%. Nine-month net income was $589.741 million, compared with $827.021 million in 2025.
Management expects nearly 180 million fans in 2026. Ticket sales for 2026 shows reached approximately 170 million through late October, up 13% and already exceeding full-year 2025; Venue Nation is expected to host over 75 million fans in 2026.
3 points · 0 major0 major · 2 points
How this balance works
Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.
It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.
Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.
Positive
- Moderate pointQ3 revenue rose 19% to $10,105.0 million.
- Moderate pointQ3 adjusted operating income rose 14% to $1,179.3 million.
- Moderate pointNine-month operating cash flow rose 45% to $2,100.4 million.
Negative
- Moderate pointNine-month operating income fell 25% to $1,043.4 million.
- Moderate pointNine-month net income was $589.741 million, versus $827.021 million in 2025.
Filing Explained
Live Nation reports that its October refinancing extended debt maturities to
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 2.02, 9.01
2 items
Item 2.02
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Financial
Disclosure of earnings results, typically an earnings press release or preliminary financials.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Revenue: $10,105.0 million
Operating income: $892.0 million
Adjusted operating income (AOI): $1,179.3 million
+4 more
7 metrics
Revenue
$10,105.0 million
Q3 2026; up 19% from Q3 2025
Operating income
$892.0 million
Q3 2026; up 13% from Q3 2025
Adjusted operating income (AOI)
$1,179.3 million
Q3 2026; up 14% from Q3 2025
Operating income
$1,043.4 million
Nine months ended September 30, 2026; down 25% from $1,393.9 million in 2025
Net income
$589.741 million
Nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared with $827.021 million in 2025
Net cash provided by operating activities
$2,100.4 million
Nine months ended September 30, 2026; up 45%
Free cash flow — adjusted
$1,625.0 million
Nine months ended September 30, 2026; up 25%
Key Terms
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), Free Cash Flow — Adjusted, Constant Currency, fee-bearing Gross Transaction Value (GTV)
4 terms
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) financial
"Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), or AOI, is a non-GAAP financial measure"
Free Cash Flow — Adjusted financial
"Free Cash Flow — Adjusted, or FCF"
Constant Currency financial
"Constant Currency is a non-GAAP financial measure"
Constant currency is a way of measuring financial results that removes the effects of changes in currency exchange rates. It allows for a clearer comparison of a company's performance over time by showing what the numbers would look like if exchange rates had stayed the same. This helps investors understand whether growth comes from actual business improvements or just currency fluctuations.
fee-bearing Gross Transaction Value (GTV) financial
"fee-bearing Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of $11.2 billion"
Earnings Snapshot
Revenue: $10,105.0 million · Guidance included
Third quarter 2026
Revenue
$10,105.0 million
Up 19%
Operating income
$892.0 million
Up 13%
Adjusted operating income (AOI)
$1,179.3 million
Up 14%
Net income
$566.875 million
Compared with $477.978 million in Q3 2025
Guidance
Management expects nearly 180 million fans in 2026; Venue Nation is expected to host over 75 million fans in 2026; Ticketing full-year AOI growth is expected to be up high single-digits.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
How much revenue did LYV report in Q3 2026?
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) reported $10,105.0 million in Q3 2026 revenue, up 19% from $8,499.1 million in Q3 2025.
What was LYV's Q3 2026 adjusted operating income?
Live Nation reported $1,179.3 million in Q3 2026 adjusted operating income, up 14% from $1,033.0 million in Q3 2025.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File No.) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||
(310 ) 867-7000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||||||||||||||
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). | |||||
| Emerging growth company | |||||
| If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. | ¨ | ||||
| Item 2.02 | Results of Operations and Financial Condition. | ||||
On November 5, 2026, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. issued a press release announcing its results of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in this Current Report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. | ||||
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | Press release issued by Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. on November 5, 2026. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. | ||||||||||||||
By: | /s/ Brian Capo | |||||||||||||
| Brian Capo | ||||||||||||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||||||||||||
November 5, 2026
Exhibit 99.1
LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
“In a world of endless screens and AI-generated everything, the one thing that can't be replicated is being there. Artists are taking their music to more fans in more places than ever, and fans are showing up in record numbers. Through October, we've sold 170 million tickets, up 13% and already ahead of all of last year. We now expect to welcome nearly 180 million fans in 2026.
This quarter attendance grew 19%, and year-to-date, international markets surpassed the U.S. in both concert attendance and sponsorship revenue — a powerful sign of how global live music has become. We're investing in more venues around the world, giving artists more stages to build their careers and fans more opportunities to experience the magic of live music. With double-digit adjusted operating income (AOI) growth across all three segments this quarter, we're on track to deliver another record year and sustain double-digit growth for years to come.” –Michael Rapino, President and CEO
ARTISTS REACH MORE FANS WORLDWIDE DRIVING A RECORD QUARTER (3Q26 vs. 3Q25 unless otherwise noted)
•Revenue of $10.1 billion, up 19%
•Operating income of $892 million, up 13%
•AOI of $1.18 billion, up 14%
•Global key operating metrics achieved new levels:
◦Fan attendance of 61 million, up 19%
◦Fee-bearing tickets of 98 million, up 10% and fee-bearing Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of $11.2 billion, up 13%
•International markets drove global strength, including:
◦Fan attendance up 29%, accounting for 60% of total fan growth
◦Fee-bearing tickets up 20%, contributing 75% of total fee-bearing ticket growth
◦Sponsorship AOI up 12% as international sponsorship surpassed North America in operating income and AOI for the quarter
•Ticket sales for 2026 shows up 13% to approximately 170 million through late October, already exceeding full-year 2025, with stadium, arena, and amphitheater fan count each up mid-teens or higher
•Venue Nation attendance for the year now expected to exceed 75 million, up more than 15% year-over-year
•Through Q3, ticketing GTV for primary tickets sold for 2027 shows up double-digits compared to same point last year, driven by double-digit growth in North America primary ticket volume
1
ARTISTS DRAW RECORD ATTENDANCE WORLDWIDE (3Q26 vs. 3Q25 unless otherwise noted)
•Revenue of $8.7 billion, up 20%
•AOI of $603 million, up 17%
•Global fan attendance of 61 million, up 19%, reflecting broad-based demand across all regions and large venue types:
◦North America up 13% with stadiums and amphitheaters driving 90% of the growth
◦International up 29%, with all regions up at least 15%
◦Fan attendance at third-party stadiums up over 40%, accounting for more than half of global fan growth
•Concerts remain a high consumer priority:
◦Ticket sales exceeded prior-year levels every month of 2026 through October
◦Ticket sales for the month of October up over 20%, reflecting strong show closings
◦September marked an all-time monthly high for amphitheater attendance and number of shows
◦Sell-through rates are ahead of last year while cancellation rates pace below year-to-date
•Record Q3 event-related deferred revenue of $3.8 billion, up 8%
•Prepaid advertising expense for 2027 shows up double-digits at the end of Q3
•Fan attendance now expected to approach 180 million for the full year, delivering double-digit growth
•Concerts on track to deliver double-digit AOI growth for the full year
VENUE NATION EXPANDS STAGES FOR ARTISTS WORLDWIDE AND ENHANCES FAN EXPERIENCES
•Venue Nation hosted 26 million fans in Q3, up 17% and now expected to host over 75 million fans in 2026
◦Arenas outside the U.S. expected to deliver 75% of owned or operated fan growth at our large venues for the full year, with attendance now surpassing U.S. amphitheaters
•Fans are choosing a range of experiences at our large U.S. amphitheaters, with upgrade purchases and VIP revenue per ticket up double-digits while value menu unit sales more than doubled
•Similar strength internationally, with onsite spending at our European arenas up double-digits
•On track to open or acquire 10 large (over 3,000 capacity) venues through the end of the year, which are expected to deliver over 5 million fans this year with a run-rate of nearly 8 million
2
INTERNATIONAL SPONSORSHIP SURPASSES NORTH AMERICA (3Q26 vs. 3Q25 unless otherwise noted)
•Revenue of $506 million, up 14%
•AOI of $350 million, up 12%
•International markets, led by ticket access, venues, and festivals, contributed 65% of sponsorship revenue growth for the quarter
•Sponsorship AOI on track to grow double-digits for the full year
DEMAND FOR ARTISTS’ SHOWS DRIVES RECORD Q3 TICKETING RESULTS (3Q26 vs. 3Q25 unless otherwise noted)
•Revenue of $870 million, up 9%
•AOI of $316 million, up 10%
•Record fee-bearing ticket volume of 98 million, up 10%
◦Concerts accounted for 95% of fee-bearing ticket growth, benefitting from successful early 2027 on sales
◦International markets contributed 75% of fee-bearing ticket growth
•Secondary ticket GTV flat, with growth in sports offsetting lower concert resale activity, consistent with efforts to constrain scalper sales
•Net new ticketing agreements added 23 million tickets, over 70% from international markets, expanding our ability to help artists and venues reach fans
•Full-year AOI growth is now expected to be up high single-digits
3
STRONG CASH GENERATION SUPPORTS INVESTMENT IN MORE STAGES FOR ARTISTS
•Year-to-date operating cash flow of $2.1 billion, up 45% and free cash flow—adjusted of $1.6 billion, up 25% with AOI to free cash flow—adjusted conversion of 69%, up from 60% last year
•Full-year AOI to free cash flow—adjusted conversion expected to exceed last year
•Year-to-date capital expenditures total $722 million, on track for full-year spend of nearly $1.1 billion:
◦$800 million directed toward expanding and improving venues, giving artists more places to perform and fans better live experiences
◦Approximately $200 million from funding by joint-venture partners, sponsorship agreements, and other sources reduce venue cash requirements
◦Remainder to focus on ticketing and sponsorship growth initiatives, as well as ongoing maintenance requirements
BALANCE SHEET WELL-POSITIONED FOR CONTINUED VENUE INVESTMENT
•October refinancing extended maturities to 2031, providing additional financial flexibility to fund venue expansion at an attractive cost of capital, while euro-denominated debt aligns with our growing international business
•80% of our debt is fixed-rate with a weighted average cost of debt of 4.3%
OTHER FINANCIAL STATEMENT DETAILS (vs. 2025)
•Depreciation and amortization expected to grow 12–15%
•Net interest expense is expected to be approximately $280 million
•Corporate / Other and Eliminations expense expected to increase in line with AOI growth
•Income tax expense is expected to be 15–20% of AOI
•Since mid-year, full-year foreign exchange benefit reduced by approximately $20 million
•Below-the-line items (full year):
◦Noncontrolling interest expense is expected to be approximately $325 million. This projection may be further impacted by mark-to-market revaluations of investments and will have no impact to earnings per share, as any impact will be offset in other income and expenses
◦Accretion expense is projected to be one-third of last year’s, with continued strong performance at OCESA and other partners
•2026 share count not expected to change materially from 2025
4
Compare Our Operating Results to Past Quarters In The Trended Results Grid:
https://investors.livenationentertainment.com/financial-information/financial-results
The company will webcast a teleconference today, November 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss its financial performance, operational matters and potentially other material developments. Interested parties should visit the “News / Events” section of the company’s website at investors.livenationentertainment.com to listen to the webcast. Supplemental statistical and financial information to be provided on the call, if any, will be posted to the “Financial Info” section of the website. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Live Nation website. The link to the 3Q26 Trended Results Grid is provided above for convenience and such grid is not a part of, or incorporated into, this press release or any SEC filings that include this press release.
Notice Regarding Financial Statements
The company has provided certain financial statements at the end of this press release for reference. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the full financial statements, and the notes thereto, set forth in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today and available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) helps artists grow their careers through live music, promoting shows that connect them with fans around the world. Since 2005, we've connected artists with more than 1.5 billion fans across 55 countries. A live concert is more than a show — it's a moment fans wait all year for, travel for, and remember for a lifetime. Live Nation exists to make more of those moments possible, helping artists grow their careers and bringing more live music to more fans, everywhere. For more information, visit investors.livenationentertainment.com.
5
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – THIRD QUARTER
(unaudited; $ in millions)
| Q3 2026 Reported | Q3 2025 Reported | Change | Q3 2026 Currency Impacts | Q3 2026 at Constant Currency | Change at Constant Currency | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concerts | $ | 8,746.4 | $ | 7,282.5 | 20 | % | $ | 7.3 | $ | 8,753.7 | 20 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticketing | 870.3 | 797.6 | 9 | % | (5.6) | 864.7 | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sponsorship & Advertising | 505.7 | 442.7 | 14 | % | (4.8) | 500.9 | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other and Eliminations | (17.4) | (23.7) | * | 0.0 | (17.4) | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 10,105.0 | $ | 8,499.1 | 19 | % | $ | (3.1) | $ | 10,101.9 | 19 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Operating Income | $ | 892.0 | $ | 792.5 | 13 | % | $ | 3.0 | $ | 895.0 | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concerts | $ | 602.9 | $ | 514.2 | 17 | % | $ | 7.6 | $ | 610.5 | 19 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticketing | 315.7 | 285.9 | 10 | % | (3.7) | 312.0 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sponsorship & Advertising | 350.2 | 313.1 | 12 | % | (2.9) | 347.3 | 11 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other and Eliminations | (4.2) | (6.2) | * | 0.0 | (4.2) | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate | (85.3) | (74.0) | (15) | % | 0.0 | (85.3) | (15) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,179.3 | $ | 1,033.0 | 14 | % | $ | 1.0 | $ | 1,180.3 | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
* Percentages are not meaningful
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – NINE MONTHS
(unaudited; $ in millions)
| 9 Months 2026 Reported | 9 Months 2025 Reported | Change | 9 Months 2026 Currency Impacts | 9 Months 2026 Constant Currency | Change at Constant Currency | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concerts | $ | 17,966.3 | $ | 15,712.9 | 14 | % | $ | (138.8) | $ | 17,827.5 | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticketing | 2,487.5 | 2,234.9 | 11 | % | (39.2) | 2,448.3 | 10 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sponsorship & Advertising | 1,147.2 | 999.3 | 15 | % | (23.4) | 1,123.8 | 12 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other and Eliminations | (36.1) | (59.2) | * | (0.1) | (36.2) | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 21,564.9 | $ | 18,887.9 | 14 | % | $ | (201.5) | $ | 21,363.4 | 13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Operating Income | $ | 1,043.4 | $ | 1,393.9 | (25) | % | $ | 2.8 | $ | 1,046.2 | (25) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concerts | $ | 915.3 | $ | 879.4 | 4 | % | $ | 11.5 | $ | 926.8 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticketing | 902.4 | 829.1 | 9 | % | (18.7) | 883.7 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sponsorship & Advertising | 771.6 | 676.6 | 14 | % | (15.7) | 755.9 | 12 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other and Eliminations | (14.0) | (18.8) | * | 0.1 | (13.9) | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate | (208.0) | (193.9) | (7) | % | 0.0 | (208.0) | (7) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 2,367.3 | $ | 2,172.4 | 9 | % | $ | (22.8) | $ | 2,344.5 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
* Percentages are not meaningful
6
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted Operating Income
(unaudited; $ in millions)
| Q3 2026 | Q3 2025 | 9 Months 2026 | 9 Months 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating Income | $ | 892.0 | $ | 792.5 | $ | 1,043.4 | $ | 1,393.9 | |||||||||
| Acquisition expenses | 32.4 | 33.1 | 132.7 | 141.8 | |||||||||||||
| Amortization of non-recoupable ticketing contract advances | 16.9 | 16.5 | 65.1 | 62.0 | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 183.3 | 165.6 | 541.1 | 474.1 | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on sale of operating assets | 7.4 | (14.9) | (7.2) | (17.9) | |||||||||||||
| Astroworld loss contingencies | — | (0.6) | — | (8.4) | |||||||||||||
| Governmental Investigations and Litigation | — | — | 450.0 | — | |||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 47.3 | 40.8 | 142.2 | 126.9 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income | $ | 1,179.3 | $ | 1,033.0 | $ | 2,367.3 | $ | 2,172.4 | |||||||||
Reconciliations of Certain Non-GAAP Measures to Their Most Directly Comparable GAAP Measures
(unaudited; $ in millions)
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow — Adjusted to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
| ($ in millions) | Q3 2026 | Q3 2025 | |||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (657.7) | $ | (95.7) | |||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities (working capital) | 1,640.5 | 808.3 | |||||||||
| Changes in accrued liabilities for Astroworld loss contingencies | — | (0.6) | |||||||||
| Free cash flow from earnings | $ | 982.8 | $ | 712.0 | |||||||
| Less: Maintenance capital expenditures | (30.2) | (30.7) | |||||||||
| Distributions to noncontrolling interests | (18.2) | (32.0) | |||||||||
| Free cash flow — adjusted | $ | 934.4 | $ | 649.3 | |||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (621.2) | $ | (340.4) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 472.1 | $ | 175.7 | |||||||
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow — Adjusted to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
| ($ in millions) | 9 Months 2026 | 9 Months 2025 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 2,100.4 | $ | 1,449.0 | |||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities (working capital) | (624.2) | 139.5 | |||||||||
| Changes in accrued liabilities for Astroworld loss contingencies | — | (8.4) | |||||||||
| Governmental Investigations and Litigation | 450.0 | — | |||||||||
| Free cash flow from earnings | $ | 1,926.2 | $ | 1,580.1 | |||||||
| Less: Maintenance capital expenditures | (94.3) | (79.8) | |||||||||
| Distributions to noncontrolling interests | (206.9) | (196.8) | |||||||||
| Free cash flow — adjusted | $ | 1,625.0 | $ | 1,303.5 | |||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (1,498.4) | $ | (832.8) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $ | 780.2 | $ | (322.8) | |||||||
7
Reconciliation of Free Cash to Cash and Cash Equivalents
| ($ in millions) | September 30, 2026 | September 30, 2025 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 8,257.5 | $ | 6,750.5 | ||||
| Short-term investments | 69.1 | 67.6 | ||||||
| Client cash | (2,669.5) | (2,058.9) | ||||||
| Deferred revenue — event-related | (3,818.3) | (3,545.5) | ||||||
| Accrued artist fees | (465.9) | (441.4) | ||||||
| Collections on behalf of others | (343.8) | (153.4) | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses — event-related | 1,277.5 | 891.5 | ||||||
| Free cash | $ | 2,306.6 | $ | 1,510.4 | ||||
8
Forward-Looking Statements, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations:
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding anticipated Concerts fan attendance in 2026; the company’s being on track to deliver another record year in 2026 and sustain double-digit growth for years to come; expected adjusted operating income growth in the company’s Concerts business for 2026; expectations for Venue Nation’s fan count for 2026 and the anticipated contribution to this growth from arenas outside the U.S.; anticipated openings/acquisitions of large venues by the end of 2026, as well as the fan contribution and run-rates from these venues; anticipated adjusted operating income growth in the company’s Sponsorship business for 2026; expected adjusted operating income growth in the company’s Ticketmaster business for 2026; expectations for full-year adjusted operating income to free cash flow—adjusted conversion rates; the company’s anticipated capital expenditures in 2026, including the planned allocation and source of these funds; the positioning of the company’s balance sheet for continued venue investment; the company’s full-year 2026 expectations for depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, Corporate / Other and Eliminations expense, income tax expense, foreign exchange impacts, noncontrolling interest expense, accretion expense, and share count.
Live Nation wishes to caution you that there are some known and unknown factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to operational challenges in achieving strategic objectives and executing on the company's plans, the risk that the company's markets do not evolve as anticipated, the potential impact of any economic slowdown and operational challenges associated with selling tickets and staging events.
Live Nation refers you to the documents it files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, specifically the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the company’s most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, which contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the company’s projections or forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date on which they are made. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or concerning Live Nation are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Live Nation does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.
This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. A reconciliation of each such measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, together with an explanation of why management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors, is provided herein.
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), or AOI, is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as operating income (loss) before certain acquisition expenses (including ongoing legal costs stemming from the Ticketmaster merger, changes in the fair value of accrued acquisition-related contingent consideration obligations, and acquisition-related severance and compensation), amortization of non-recoupable ticketing contract advances, depreciation and amortization (including goodwill impairment), loss (gain) on disposal of operating assets, and stock-based compensation expense. Due to the significant and non-recurring nature of the matters, we also exclude from AOI the impact of realized liabilities for settlements and expenses for regulatory compliance matters associated with the provision for losses arising from certain significant governmental investigations and litigations under ASC 450 - Contingencies, which are described under the heading “Governmental Investigations and Litigation” in Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Except as described above, ongoing legal costs associated with defense of these claims, such as attorney fees, are not excluded from AOI. We use AOI to evaluate the performance of our operating segments. We believe that information about AOI assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of our portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income (loss), thus providing insights into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results. AOI is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of AOI as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain amortizing assets used in generating revenue in our business. Accordingly, AOI should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, AOI as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
AOI margin is a non-GAAP financial measure that we calculate by dividing AOI by revenue. We use AOI margin to evaluate the performance of our operating segments. We believe that information about AOI margin assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of our portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income (loss), thus providing insights into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results. AOI margin is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of AOI margin as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain amortizing assets used in generating revenue in our business. Accordingly, AOI margin should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss) margin, and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, AOI margin as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
Constant Currency is a non-GAAP financial measure when applied to a GAAP financial measure. We calculate currency impacts as the difference between current period activity translated using the current period’s currency exchange rates and the comparable prior period’s currency exchange rates. We present constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations.
Free Cash Flow — Adjusted, or FCF, is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less changes in operating assets and liabilities, less maintenance capital expenditures, less distributions to noncontrolling interest partners. We use FCF among other measures, to evaluate the ability of operations to generate cash that is available for purposes other than maintenance capital expenditures. We believe that information about FCF provides investors with an important
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perspective on the cash available to service debt, make acquisitions, and for revenue generating capital expenditures. FCF is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of FCF as a performance measure is that it does not necessarily represent funds available for operations and is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Accordingly, FCF should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, FCF as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
Free Cash is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as cash and cash equivalents less ticketing-related client funds, less event-related deferred revenue, less accrued expenses due to artists and cash collected on behalf of others, plus event-related prepaids. We use free cash as a proxy for how much cash we have available to, among other things, optionally repay debt balances, make acquisitions and fund revenue generating capital expenditures. Free cash is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of free cash as a performance measure is that it does not necessarily represent funds available from operations and it is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Accordingly, free cash should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, cash and cash equivalents and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, free cash as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
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LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
| September 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 8,257,468 | $ | 7,094,200 | |||||||
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $100,735 and $73,912, respectively | 3,289,064 | 2,009,055 | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 2,205,755 | 1,453,732 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 504,957 | 417,405 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 14,257,244 | 10,974,392 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 4,313,065 | 3,415,771 | |||||||||
| Operating lease assets | 1,905,179 | 1,869,753 | |||||||||
| Intangible assets | |||||||||||
| Definite-lived intangible assets, net | 1,302,144 | 1,078,453 | |||||||||
| Indefinite-lived intangible assets, net | 368,971 | 369,015 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 3,314,621 | 2,889,178 | |||||||||
| Long-term advances | 549,650 | 631,071 | |||||||||
| Other long-term assets | 1,885,029 | 1,684,900 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 27,895,903 | $ | 22,912,533 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable, client accounts | $ | 3,189,182 | $ | 1,941,389 | |||||||
| Accrued expenses and accounts payable | 5,268,284 | 3,555,811 | |||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 4,413,583 | 4,461,959 | |||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt, net | 1,860,111 | 587,630 | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | 253,103 | 482,061 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 14,984,263 | 11,028,850 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, net | 7,889,481 | 7,612,018 | |||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | 2,155,584 | 2,036,974 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 532,234 | 415,844 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingent liabilities | |||||||||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interests | 1,146,991 | 924,472 | |||||||||
| Stockholders' equity | |||||||||||
| Common stock | 2,338 | 2,328 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,346,107 | 1,455,925 | |||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (688,801) | (1,041,978) | |||||||||
| Cost of shares held in treasury | (30,396) | (30,396) | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (172,432) | (114,872) | |||||||||
| Total Live Nation stockholders' equity | 456,816 | 271,007 | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 730,534 | 623,368 | |||||||||
| Total equity | 1,187,350 | 894,375 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 27,895,903 | $ | 22,912,533 | |||||||
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LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands except share and per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 10,105,035 | $ | 8,499,143 | $ | 21,564,922 | $ | 18,887,901 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Direct operating expenses | 7,747,178 | 6,437,700 | 15,949,852 | 13,903,393 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 1,161,352 | 1,008,038 | 3,257,836 | 2,790,304 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 183,315 | 165,600 | 541,070 | 474,080 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposal of operating assets | 7,351 | (14,851) | (7,187) | (17,909) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate expenses | 113,886 | 110,205 | 779,997 | 344,160 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 891,953 | 792,451 | 1,043,354 | 1,393,873 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 102,114 | 80,291 | 289,866 | 232,682 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (40,433) | (36,659) | (122,609) | (108,613) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in losses of nonconsolidated affiliates | 3,875 | 5,209 | 11,217 | 462 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other expense (income), net | 1,479 | 13,792 | (66,536) | 53,125 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 824,918 | 729,818 | 931,416 | 1,216,217 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 258,043 | 251,840 | 341,675 | 389,196 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 566,875 | 477,978 | 589,741 | 827,021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 119,040 | 46,520 | 236,564 | 128,949 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation | $ | 447,835 | $ | 431,458 | $ | 353,177 | $ | 698,072 | |||||||||||||||
| Basic net income per common share available to common stockholders of Live Nation | $ | 1.74 | $ | 0.74 | $ | 0.96 | $ | 0.83 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per common share available to common stockholders of Live Nation | $ | 1.69 | $ | 0.73 | $ | 0.95 | $ | 0.82 | |||||||||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 233,111,862 | 232,043,356 | 232,786,526 | 231,706,216 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 256,374,955 | 234,752,332 | 235,070,799 | 234,725,805 | |||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation to net income available to common stockholders of Live Nation: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation | $ | 447,835 | $ | 431,458 | $ | 353,177 | $ | 698,072 | |||||||||||||||
| Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests | (42,599) | (259,850) | (130,422) | (505,745) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income available to common stockholders of Live Nation—basic | $ | 405,236 | $ | 171,608 | $ | 222,755 | $ | 192,327 | |||||||||||||||
| Convertible debt interest, net of tax | 27,498 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income available to common stockholders of Live Nation—diluted | $ | 432,734 | $ | 171,608 | $ | 222,755 | $ | 192,327 | |||||||||||||||
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LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 589,741 | $ | 827,021 | |||||||
| Reconciling items: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation | 331,641 | 281,122 | |||||||||
| Amortization of definite-lived intangibles | 209,429 | 192,958 | |||||||||
| Amortization of non-recoupable ticketing contract advances | 65,116 | 61,971 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 137,579 | 69,419 | |||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts | 17,455 | 13,392 | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 142,151 | 126,912 | |||||||||
| Unrealized changes in fair value of contingent consideration | 11,050 | 17,012 | |||||||||
| Equity in losses of nonconsolidated affiliates, net of distributions | 15,939 | 16,525 | |||||||||
| Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable | 30,850 | 19,385 | |||||||||
| Loss (gain) on sale of operating and fixed assets | 1,852 | (19,390) | |||||||||
| Gain on mark-to-market of investments in nonconsolidated affiliates and crypto assets | (64,953) | (10,341) | |||||||||
| Loss (gain) on forward currency exchange contracts | (559) | 13,280 | |||||||||
| Other, net | (11,061) | (20,704) | |||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions: | |||||||||||
| Increase in accounts receivable | (1,230,524) | (753,810) | |||||||||
| Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets | (718,035) | (401,117) | |||||||||
| Increase in accrued expenses, accounts payable and other liabilities | 2,752,462 | 1,019,909 | |||||||||
| Decrease in deferred revenue | (179,713) | (4,498) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 2,100,420 | 1,449,046 | |||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Advances of notes receivable | (22,070) | (58,543) | |||||||||
| Collections of notes receivable | 10,489 | 21,600 | |||||||||
| Disposal of operating assets, net of cash sold | 8,160 | 25,232 | |||||||||
| Investments made in nonconsolidated affiliates | (57,450) | (29,225) | |||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (801,790) | (709,797) | |||||||||
| Cash paid for acquisition of right-of-use assets | (47,592) | (20,800) | |||||||||
| Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (572,326) | (68,334) | |||||||||
| Cash paid for acquisition of intangible rights | (18,910) | (6,182) | |||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of intangible assets | — | 20,040 | |||||||||
| Other, net | 3,099 | (6,758) | |||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (1,498,390) | (832,767) | |||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from debt, net of debt issuance costs | 1,625,019 | 948,154 | |||||||||
| Payments on debt including extinguishment costs | (257,214) | (110,526) | |||||||||
| Contributions from noncontrolling interests | 23,376 | 14,002 | |||||||||
| Distributions to noncontrolling interests | (206,868) | (196,799) | |||||||||
| Purchases of noncontrolling interests, net of sales | (251,935) | (851,183) | |||||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 5,229 | 5,054 | |||||||||
| Taxes paid for net share settlement of equity awards | (109,000) | (119,666) | |||||||||
| Payments for deferred and contingent consideration | (46,900) | (10,984) | |||||||||
| Other, net | (1,523) | (832) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 780,184 | (322,780) | |||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (125,513) | 363,479 | |||||||||
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 1,256,701 | 656,978 | |||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | 7,106,986 | 6,106,109 | |||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 8,363,687 | $ | 6,763,087 | |||||||
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