LA Tickets 2028The LA28 Ticket Draw, Explained: How the 2026 Sales Worked
The draw decided who got the first 6 million LA28 tickets, and it confused almost everyone it touched. If you are planning for 2027 you do not need to enter it, because it no longer exists. You do need to understand it, because the tickets it allocated are the same tickets that will move through resale, and because half the advice circulating online still assumes a system LA28 has switched off.
How the draw worked, step by step
Registration came first. From January 14 to March 18, 2026, anyone aged 18 or over could register free on LA28's ticketing site, creating the profile that entered them into the draw. More than 12 million people did. LA28 then randomly assigned time slots, the defined windows in which a selected fan could buy during a drop. When a drop opened, slot holders shopped inside their window, up to 12 Olympic tickets plus 12 soccer tickets, while everyone else watched the inventory fall.
The 2026 sales calendar the draw produced
| Window | Dates in 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Draw registration | January 14 to March 18 | Free, no purchase required |
| Locals presale | April 2 to 6 | For residents near the LA and Oklahoma City venues |
| Drop 1 | April 9 to 19 | More than 4 million tickets sold |
| Visa presale | July 29 to 31 | A further window tied to the official payment partner |
| Drop 2 | August 10 to 20 | Registration for this draw closed July 22; the final drop of 2026 |
Fans who missed a slot were carried into later draws, which is how the system stayed fair on paper while still leaving most registrants empty handed. Sellout speed in the famous sessions, and the 24 percent service fee, did the rest of the reputational damage.
Why the draw is over
A draw rations fairly when supply is a mystery. By the end of 2026, LA28 knows its demand to the decimal point, and the remaining job is simpler: sell the refreshed inventory to whoever shows up. So the 2027 general sale is first come, first served, with no draw, no time slot and no purchase limits. Your old draw registration neither helps nor hurts you there. What carries over is your account, your payment readiness and your plan. Keep all three current, and follow the sale date tracker for the one fact that still matters: the date.
Common questions
Do I need to enter a draw to buy LA28 tickets in 2027?
No. LA28 states that buyers in the first come, first served sale will no longer be required to enter a ticket draw or receive a time slot. The draw belonged to the 2026 drops.
Did registering for the draw guarantee tickets?
No. Registration entered you for a randomly assigned time slot. Registration was free, required no payment, and LA28's terms state that ticket availability was never guaranteed.
What is a time slot in the LA28 system?
In LA28's own definition, the period of time when you can purchase tickets during a drop. A ticket drop is a release of tickets for purchase by fans holding time slots.
I registered for the draw and got nothing. Am I locked out?
No. The 2027 general sale is open without a draw, and LA28 says refreshed inventory across all Olympic sports will be included when it opens.