CTS EVENTIM, Europe's leading ticketing and live entertainment company and the second-largest worldwide, has reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2026, continuing its growth trajectory. Consolidated revenue increased by 23.0% to EUR 613.5 million compared to the prior-year period, while adjusted EBITDA rose by 18.5% to EUR 118.9 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin remained stable at 19.4%.
The Live Entertainment segment was a standout performer, with revenue climbing 38.3% to EUR 403.6 million and adjusted EBITDA surging 151.1% to EUR 29.1 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 7.2% from 3.7% in the first quarter of 2025. This growth was primarily driven by successful tours and events across multiple markets, including highly popular US tours and events in Germany. The segment also benefited from venue activities, such as the new Unipol Dome in Milan, which hosted 53 ice hockey matches during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, attracting over 400,000 fans.
In the Ticketing segment, revenue increased by 2.5% year-on-year to EUR 219.0 million, while adjusted EBITDA grew by 1.2% to EUR 89.8 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin was virtually unchanged at 41.0%. The company noted that changes to the partnership with Stage Entertainment affected comparability with the first quarter of 2025. Adjusted for this effect, ticketing revenue expanded by more than 6%. As reported in April 2026, the contract with Stage Entertainment has been extended for the long term in the form of a retail partnership.
Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, CEO of CTS EVENTIM, commented: "CTS EVENTIM has made a successful start to 2026, maintaining its trajectory of profitable growth. The Live Entertainment segment performed particularly strongly in the first quarter. Our international position and close cooperation with promoters, artists and partners continue to provide strong foundations for the sustained growth of our business."
The company's performance in the first quarter aligns with its expectations for the full year 2026. CTS EVENTIM, which markets over 300 million tickets annually through mobile and online portals and physical box offices, is listed on the stock exchange and a member of the MDAX segment. In 2025, the Group generated revenue of EUR 3.1 billion across more than 25 countries. According to Pollstar's global rankings for 2025, the EVENTIM Group is the second-biggest promoter in the world.
The implications of these results are significant for the business and technology sectors. The strong growth in Live Entertainment, particularly from international tours and major events like the Winter Olympics, underscores the resilience and recovery of the live events industry post-pandemic. For business leaders, CTS EVENTIM's performance highlights the importance of digital ticketing platforms and global promoter networks in capitalizing on consumer demand for live experiences. The company's ability to maintain stable margins while scaling operations suggests efficient cost management and pricing power. Additionally, the extension of the Stage Entertainment partnership indicates long-term strategic stability in the ticketing segment. Investors and industry stakeholders will likely view these results as a positive indicator for the broader live entertainment and ticketing market.
