Sports ticket guide, Where to shop & buy 2026 sports tickets
David Hoffman
- This guide explains the various websites on which you can shop tickets along with the top sporting events that are happening in 2026.
- Top 2026 ticket sites for sporting events include StubHub, SeatGeek, Gametime and more.
With the calendar flipped to 2026, a fresh slate of major sporting events are on the horizon, and it's a great year to be a sports fan.
While most of the audience will be viewing these events from the comforts of their home, you could be one of the lucky ones doing the only one thing better—attending the event in person!
From the unpredictability of March Madness to the highly-anticipated FIFA World Cup over the summer, there's a major sporting event for every type of fan in 2026.
To help you start planning, we've rounded up the most popular places to buy sports tickets in 2026, plus the biggest sporting events of the year so you don’t miss a moment of the action.
Popular places to buy sports tickets online: NFL, NBA, NHL tickets and more
1. StubHub
- Fees: There aren't set fees on tickets. Fees depend on the ticket price, when the ticket is bought in comparison to the timing of event, along with supply and demand. StubHub does include fees while searching for tickets.
- Deliverability: There's a variety of ways StubHub delivers your tickets, depending on the kind of ticket:
- Mobile transfer
- Mobile ticket
- Electronic or instant download E-ticket
- Paper
- Pickup
- Ticket transfer: It's easy to transfer tickets through StubHub. Check your order details and how they were delivered. Since most are delivered via mobile, you can go into the StubHub app, select those tickets and select "transfer" in most cases.
2. SeatGeek
- Fees: There are not set fees with Seat Geek. Fees depend on the type of event, your ticket cost along with supply and demand. Seat Geek includes fees while browsing.
- Deliverability: Most tickets on Seat Geek are delivered electronically, depending on if you purchased them as a mobile ticket or electronic ticket (PDF download). Sometimes if you purchased a ticket, it'll be delivered via the service, AXS, where it'll arrive in your email inbox.
- Other tickets purchased like physical/shipped tickets will be sent to you through the mail
- Local pick up/will call tickets mean you'll have to head to the box office the day of the event and pick them up
- Ticket transfer: It's easy to to transfer tickets through Seat Geek. Simply go to the ticket section of your Seat Geek account, find the event, select transfer, find the ticket(s) you want to send, then enter the person's phone number or email to the desired person.
3. VividSeats
- Fees: There are standard fees with VividSeats, however, they do include all-in pricing so you know as soon as you begin to shop.
- Deliverability: Like many ticketing sites, the main source of ticket delivery is through e-ticketing, whether it be via mobile or email. Most of those tickets are "instant download" and will arrive shortly to you. If it's an email delivery, it may not be as quick.
- Ticket transfer: After logging into your account, click the desired tickets you want to transfer. From there, select the "transfer" button. A new page will appear, where you enter the name and email of that person.
- Once completed, you should receive an email confirmation.
4. Gametime
- Fees: In order to not mislead with costs, Gametime has a "includes fees" display for every tickets, so you always know before the checkout what you're paying. Select states don't include taxes until checkout, so read carefully.
- Gametime boasts "all-in pricing" for full transparency upfront
- Deliverability: Like most ticketing sites, tickets are delivered via mobile or email. If your event requires physical tickets, you'll be asked to enter a delivery address, where your tickets will be sent.
- Gametime guarantees delivery of your tickets prior to the event. If they don't deliver, the company will look for a replacement that's comparable, or issue 110% Gametime credit or your money back.
- Ticket transfer: If transferring tickets to a friend or loved one that are in the Gametime app, simply select "tickets" at the bottom of the app and then click "share tickets." There you'll be asked to enter that person's phone number or email address.
5. TickPick
- Fees: TickPick is known for not having service fees, meaning the price on the website is truly what you get when purchasing at the checkout.
- Deliverability: Most tickets will be delivered via mobile or email. In the event that they're in-hand tickets, you'll receive an email along with a tracking number once they ship.
- Ticket transfer: Login to your account via your phone or computer, then click "transfer tickets." From there, you'll enter in the information of the person you're sending them to (name, phone number, email) and complete the transfer.
6. Ticketmaster
- Fees: There are not set fees with Tickemaster. Fees depend on a variety of factors. To view how much fees would be, click on your desired tickets and click the arrow next to the subtotal, where it'll show the service fees.
- Deliverability: The top deliverability options for Ticketmaster is mobile and print-at-home tickets. Mobile tickets are available almost instantly, depending on the event. Print-at-home tickets will be sent to your email, where the tickets will be sent in PDF form.
- If you have a physical ticket that has to be sent by mail, it will be delivered in 10-14 business days.
- If you have will call tickets, you'll need to head. to the box office with the credit card you used to purchase the tickets, along with a valid photo ID.
- Ticket transfer: After signing in to your account, you'll select the tickets you want to transfer. Then, enter that person's phone number or email address and then select, "transfer ticket."
What is the best site to buy sports tickets?
StubHub and SeatGeek are the most popular platforms among our readers for verified tickets to NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB games.
Both sites feature easy-to-use websites and mobile apps and include full transparency of fees before the checkout so you're not left in disappointment realizing you're paying even more.
StubHub and Seat Geek even include seat ratings, where you can get an accurate assessment if certain seats are priced too high based on the location.
Shop tickets at StubHubWhere can I find last-minute sports tickets?
You can usually find last-minute tickets on StubHub but GameTime and TickPick also specialize in affordable, last-chance tickets for football, basketball and hockey games.
Typically, many sporting events wind up dropping in price by the day of, giving you the opportunity to still get a good seat, but at a better price. If you had a change of heart last-minute, all three are great options to spruce up your plans for the day.
What are the biggest sporting events happening in 2026?
2026 NCAA Tournament (Men's Basketball)
Arguably the event of the year that always produces chaos, March Madness is sure to be electric as 68 men's college basketball teams gun for a shot at Final Four glory.
- Date: March 17-April 6
- Location: Various U.S. cities, Final Four in Indianapolis
2026 Indianapolis 500 (IndyCar)
What's better than watching IndyCars at 220+ mph whip around Indianapolis Motor Speedway with 350,000+ fans in attendance? The always-entertaining race is a must-see event in person.
- Date: Sunday, May 24
- Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind.
2026 FIFA World Cup
With the World Cup in North America, there's countless ways to watch the tournament go down. However, act fast as tickets for most events and venues are already going quickly.
- Dates: From June 11 – July 19
- Location: Across North America (USA, Canada, Mexico)
The Masters (Golf)
- Date: April 2026
- Location: Augusta, Ga.
NBA Finals
- Date: June 2026
- Location: TBD
Stanley Cup Finals (NHL)
- Date: June 2026
- Location: TBD
2026 U.S. Open (Tennis)
- Date: August 2026
- Location: New York City
2026 MLB World Series
- Date: October 2026
- Location: TBD
Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the Paste BN Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.