CTS EVENTIM, Europe's leading ticketing and live entertainment provider and number two worldwide, has reported robust financial results for the first quarter of 2026, continuing its trajectory of profitable growth. According to the company's press release, consolidated revenue rose by 23.0% year-on-year to EUR 613.5 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 18.5% to EUR 118.9 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin remained virtually unchanged at 19.4%.
The Live Entertainment segment was a standout performer, with adjusted EBITDA soaring by 151.1% to EUR 29.1 million on revenue of EUR 403.6 million, up 38.3% from the prior-year period. The segment's adjusted EBITDA margin climbed to 7.2%. This growth was primarily driven by successful tours and events in multiple markets, including US tours and highly popular events in Germany. CEO Klaus-Peter Schulenberg attributed the strong start to the company's international position and close cooperation with promoters, artists, and partners, which provide strong foundations for sustained growth.
The Ticketing segment also posted gains, with revenue increasing by 2.5% to EUR 219.0 million and adjusted EBITDA rising by 1.2% to EUR 89.8 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin was nearly unchanged at 41.0%. As expected, changes to the partnership with Stage Entertainment affected comparability with the first quarter of 2025; adjusted for this effect, ticketing revenue expanded by a good 6%. In April 2026, the contract with Stage Entertainment was extended for the long term in the form of a retail partnership, as reported in the press release.
Venue activities contributed positively, notably the new Unipol Dome in Milan, which hosted the ice hockey tournaments of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, with 53 matches attended by over 400,000 fans. This underscores the company's ability to leverage its venue portfolio for high-profile events.
After the first quarter, the Executive Board considers the performance of the Group and both segments to be in line with its expectations for the year as a whole. The results highlight CTS EVENTIM's resilience and growth momentum in a competitive market. For investors and industry observers, the strong Q1 performance signals continued expansion in live entertainment and ticketing, with implications for the broader event ecosystem in Europe and beyond. The company's ability to deliver double-digit growth across key metrics reinforces its position as a market leader. More details are available in the original release on NewMediaWire.
