How to Get Olympics Tickets: Step-by-Step Guide for LA 2028

Imagine yourself sitting in a stadium surrounded by other frenzied sports fans, cheering for the best athletes in the world. 

You’ll scan the crowd and see the vibrant colors of waving flags from countries around the world. 

You’ll witness history as athletes compete on the world’s biggest stage.

You’ll experience emotional moments of triumph and feel the same adrenaline the athletes feel before competing for gold.

Attending the Olympics as a spectator is an unfathomably remarkable experience of unity, camaraderie and energy that will leave a lasting impact on the way you view sports. This is a bucket list experience unlike anything you’ll ever do.

My first time attending the Olympics was during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. I knew little about what it meant to be a spectator at a global sporting event such as the Olympics and I struggled my way through the Olympics ticket lottery. 

However, after researching strategies for how to get Olympics tickets and practicing several times (Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026), I’ve mastered the art of buying tickets to the Olympics. 

This detailed Olympics ticket guide will provide step-by-step instructions for buying Olympics tickets using my exact strategies that got me tickets to the best sporting events at the Games: gymnastics and track & field at the Summer Olympics and figure skating, speed skating and the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics. 

I’ll provide details about mistakes I made during my first time buying Olympics tickets so you’ll get it right the first time, and provide important information about the types of Olympics tickets. Read more to discover how to attend the world’s biggest sporting event!

Overview: How Olympics Tickets Work

Official Olympics Ticket Lottery

If you’ve already started looking into buying tickets to the Olympics, you’ve probably heard the term “lottery” used quite often. 

To buy tickets to the Olympics (either Summer or Winter) you’ll need to register for the ticket “lottery” which is a lottery for ticket purchasing windows (and NOT a free ticket giveaway as it sounds like). The Olympics ticket lottery is a random draw to buy tickets during specific time slots. The luck comes if you’re chosen for early time slots rather than time slots at the end of the ticket drops. 

Registration for the ticket lottery usually begins close to two years prior to the Games. So if you want to buy tickets to the Summer Olympics you can expect ticket registration to begin around the time the Winter Olympics occur. 

Once you’ve registered for the official Olympics ticket lottery keep an eye on your email for your purchasing slot. This window is usually VERY SHORT – usually 48 hours – so you’ll want to utilize your ticket purchasing time slot as soon as you get confirmation to do so. 

If you’ve “won the lottery” (been offered a ticket purchasing window) don’t wait to purchase your tickets to the Olympics! Many of the popular sports sell out VERY quickly. It helps to check the Games schedule before ticket drops so you can decide which events you want to attend.

What if I don’t register for the Olympics ticket lottery? Will I have a chance to buy tickets?

If you missed out on registration for the official Olympics ticket lottery, don’t worry. You’ll still have other opportunities to buy tickets to the Games. 

While tickets to popular event finals *usually* sell out during the official ticket drops, some tickets may remain available for purchase as the Games get closer. Additionally, many tickets will be resold on the official resale website for face value, so you can also purchase that way. 

Be careful buying tickets off of non-official websites, they may be marked up considerably or worse…they could be a scam!

Unsold tickets may be discounted when the Olympic Games begin. This is how I purchased two-for-one opening ceremony tickets to the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. 

Sometimes it helps to be spontaneous…but if you CAN register for the ticket lottery, you definitely should.

My Step-by-Step Guide on How to Get Olympics Tickets

Based on my experience getting tickets to the Summer AND Winter Olympics

This is my step-by-step guide to getting tickets to the Olympics (all the things I wish I knew before my first time buying!).

Step 1: Register for the Olympics Ticket Lottery

The first and most important step to getting tickets to any Olympics, Summer or Winter, is to register for the official ticket lottery. 

Each host city will create a website specifically for high volume ticket sales and frequently asked questions. Go to the official Games website or search “X Olympics ticket registration” (ex: LA 2028 Olympics ticket registration) and click the link to register.

You’ll be prompted to create an account with the official ticketing website which will be used when you purchase your tickets. Keep your account information stored for the Games, your event tickets will live here until the Games begin. 

Once the Games begin, the same account you used to purchase your tickets can be used to log in to the host city’s official ticket app (not yet released for LA 2028).

Step 2: Wait for Your Purchase Window

After creating an account and registering for the ticket lottery with the official Olympics ticketing website, wait for your purchasing time slot. 

Once registration for the ticket lottery closes, time slots will be released for fans to buy tickets. 

The LA 2028 Olympics is offering an “LA and OKC locals sale” where fans in specific zip codes can purchase tickets before the general public. Following the LA and OKC locals sale, purchasing time slots for the general public will be released. 

Check your spam folder OFTEN just in case this email doesn’t immediately show up in your inbox. I missed my ticket purchasing window for the 2024 Paris Olympics because the email was sent to my spam folder. Luckily I had family who also registered for the draw, so I was able to get tickets another way. 

When the official email comes through with your purchasing time slot, don’t hesitate to buy tickets if you have plans to attend the Games. Tickets for popular events sell out very quickly! I missed out on equestrian events at the 2024 Paris Olympics simply because I waited until the end of my purchasing window.

Step 3: Decide Which Events You’ll Try and Get Tickets for

Before you even buy tickets you should have a general idea of which events you would like to attend including backup events if your sport sells out. 

Check the Games schedule and create a mock itinerary for your Olympics experience. Don’t plan to attend more than one event per day to reduce stress of coordinating transport between venues. 

Creating a mock itinerary with your desired Olympic events can help reduce stress during the ticket drop, you simply search your sport, find available tickets and purchase (the next step of my guide to buying Olympics tickets!).

Step 4: Purchase Available Olympics Tickets

This step is EASY if you’ve mapped out your Olympics itinerary and have a good idea about which events to attend!

On the official ticket website you’ll be able to search for events by seating category (price), sport and date. Check if the event you want to attend has available tickets in your desired seating category and purchase the tickets you want by selecting the number of tickets desired for a specific event. 

Tickets to Olympic events are sold BY CATEGORY, not by individual seat. Category A is the highest category and therefore the most expensive. Categories C and D are the lower-tier categories and therefore the least expensive. My philosophy is this: there’s NO BAD SEAT at the Olympics! I’ve had incredible experiences in both Category D and Category A seating.

Step 5: Buy Official Resale (IF Necessary)

Missed out on an event ticket during your purchasing window? You can buy official Olympics tickets through the host city’s resale platform. Usually on the official resale platform, tickets are resold at face value. 

Don’t buy tickets on unofficial platforms…scalpers might resell for expensive prices or scam you!

Types of Olympics Tickets

Category Seating

Unlike concert seating where tickets are sold by individual seats, Olympics tickets are sold by category. 

When you purchase tickets to the Olympics you’ll have the option to choose between three or four categories, depending on the venue. Category A seating is the highest-tier category, the best seats, and therefore the most expensive. Category B follows category A, but usually sells for a mid-range price. Categories C and D are the lower-tier categories, seats towards the back of the arena, and are the least expensive.

Not every venue offers Category D seating, some venues only offer A – C. 

During your ticket purchasing window, you’ll choose your seats based on category. The ticket system will decide seat placement once the Games begin.

Hospitality Packages

In addition to individual event tickets, the Olympics also offers hospitality packages which include tickets to a specific event and offer exclusive lounge access in the event venue. 

Sometimes these packages also include exclusive experiences and transportation to/from the event. 

Hospitality packages are significantly more expensive than individual Games tickets. However, this might be a fun experience for bougie travelers who want premium seating and elevated spectator experiences.

Media

Each venue has designated seating for media and journalism teams. As a bucket list travel blogger and a regular attendee of the Olympics, I would LOVE to attend the Games with a media pass! For now, this will remain a dream of mine…

How Much are Tickets to the Olympics?

According to the Olympics organizing committee, nearly one million tickets to the LA 2028 Olympics will start as low as $28 and over a third of the total tickets will be priced under $100. Popular sports might be more expensive, however these prices are among some of the most affordable Olympics ticket prices ever offered.  

Most sports fans decide to watch from home rather than attend in-person because of expensive prices, however the LA 2028 Olympics is making the Summer Games as accessible as possible. 

If you want to score affordable Olympics tickets, make sure to buy from the official website and avoid independent resale (only buy from the official Olympics resale platform!).

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Buying Tickets to the Olympics

1. Missing Registration Deadlines

The best opportunity to get tickets to the Olympics is during the official ticket lottery, which usually occurs up to two years prior to the start of the Games. You’ll need to register for the ticket lottery in order to be eligible for a purchasing time slot during the Olympics ticket lottery. 

Don’t miss the registration deadline! Follow the host city’s Olympics Instagram page and sign up for the newsletter to get regular updates.

2. Missing Your Purchasing Window

When my ticket purchasing window came around for the 2024 Paris Olympics I was so excited…AND I missed it.

The email with key purchasing information went right to my spam folder and I didn’t even think to look. I missed my chance to purchase tickets during one of the earliest ticket drops. Luckily my sister had also signed up for the ticket lottery and received an email to purchase tickets a few weeks later.

During ticket drops regularly check your email for your purchasing time slot. Usually you are only offered around 48 hours to make the purchase then your window closes.

3. Not Signing Up for Official Ticket Updates

If you’re like me, you get really annoyed by those pesky daily newsletter emails. The official Olympics newsletter is one I would happily let annoy me if it meant I would get regular updates for ticket registration and other Olympics news. 

Sign up for the Olympic host city’s official newsletter to get regular updates about lottery registration and ticket drops.

4. Buying Tickets from Unofficial Sources

NEVER EVER buy tickets from unofficial ticketing platforms. There is ONE place where you can buy official Olympics tickets…get your tickets directly from there. 

5. Using the Wrong Payment Method

Visa is a major sponsor of the Olympics and therefore usually the only credit card accepted for Olympics ticket purchases. If you don’t already have a Visa, get one before your ticket purchasing time slot. And bring it with you to the Games!

Final Thoughts: Is it Worth it to go to the Olympics?

Attending the Olympics as a spectator is a bucket list experience that unites the world over the excitement of sports and the spirit of camaraderie. If you’re hoping to attend the Olympics in the future, I hope this detailed Olympics ticket guide helps you plan an unforgettable adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Answers to Common Questions