Concert tickets normally have no statutory right of withdrawal, even when bought online. If a concert or festival is cancelled, the starting point is that you can claim the ticket money back. Terms and reservations may affect the assessment, so check the purchase agreement and complain in writing.

Can you withdraw from buying a concert ticket?

No, tickets to concerts and other cultural events do not have the usual statutory right of withdrawal. This also applies to tickets bought online.

The right of withdrawal lets you cancel certain purchases without pointing to a fault. Buying a ticket on your phone therefore does not automatically let you cancel within 14 days. Forbrukerrådet, which provides guidance on consumer rights, explains the exception in its guidance on cultural purchases⁠. The rules here were checked on 7 October 2026.

The organiser may nevertheless offer voluntary cancellation, exchanges or a resale scheme. Check the terms that applied when you bought the ticket. Your own illness and cancellation by the organiser are different situations.

Read SamfunnPrep's guide to withdrawal rights, complaints and guarantees for the terms. When an event is not provided as agreed, your claim concerns the cancellation or change, rather than simply changing your mind.

What do you get back when the whole event is cancelled?

The starting point is that you can claim your ticket money back if the event is cancelled. Still, check the agreement's terms and any reservations before deciding the exact claim.

Find and keep the official cancellation notice. Check whether it concerns the entire festival, one festival day or just one artist. These situations can give rise to different claims.

Check who received your payment and who is responsible for the event. A ticket platform may process refunds on the organiser's behalf. Follow the official process, but ask for an explanation if you are simply sent back and forth between the parties.

Ask what will be refunded. The ticket price, fees and extras may be listed separately. If anything is withheld, ask which contract term and grounds this relies on.

Do not assume that hotel bookings, train tickets and other expenses are automatically covered too. That needs a separate assessment. If you bought a combined travel and concert package, different rules may be relevant from those for a single concert ticket.

What if the headline artist does not appear?

A substantial change may justify a price reduction, but not every change gives a full refund. The artist's importance to the offer and its marketing may matter.

In its guidance on festival rights⁠, Forbrukerrådet considers that losing a headline artist may justify a proportionate price reduction. The article was published on 7 July 2023 and is used here as guidance, rather than as a new event.

A large festival often includes many concerts. If one artist is absent while the rest of the programme goes ahead, the whole ticket is not necessarily without value. A claim should therefore explain why that particular missing part was substantial.

Save the advertising you saw when buying. A poster highlighting the headline artist may be relevant alongside your ticket and the programme change. Write what you believe changed and why you are asking for a price reduction.

You do not need to invent a specific percentage claim without grounds. First ask the organiser to explain its solution. If you disagree, the issue can be assessed further through a complaint.

What should you do if the date moves or your seats are worse?

Document the change and ask the seller to clarify your options. Do not treat a new date or seat as an ordinary purchase you simply regret.

If the date changes, check the notice about whether your ticket remains valid and any refund option. Explain in writing if you cannot use the ticket on the new date. The assessment depends on the change and the agreement.

If you get a worse seat than the one you paid for, a price reduction may be relevant. Forbrukerrådet distinguishes between not receiving the agreed service and receiving a poorer service. Keep the description of the seat you bought.

Tell staff at the venue if the problem occurs during the event. Sometimes a mistake can be resolved while you are there. Note who you spoke to and what they told you.

Poor sound or an interrupted event can also raise questions about a price reduction. Be specific: when did the problem arise, how long did it last, and how did it affect the offering? Ordinary disappointment with the choice of music is different from a defect in the service.

How do you ask for a refund or price reduction?

Send a short written complaint to the responsible seller or organiser. Describe the agreement, the change and what you are asking for, and attach relevant documentation.

Collect these before sending:

  • order confirmation and ticket
  • payment confirmation
  • the terms at purchase, if you have them
  • the official cancellation or change notice
  • photos or other evidence of the problem
  • previous correspondence and replies.

An example for cancellation: “I bought two tickets to [event] on [date]. The event has now been cancelled. I request a refund of the ticket money. Please state the amount, how the refund will be made, and your grounds if you believe anything should not be refunded.”

For a programme change, explain what the advertising promised and why the missing part mattered. Separate your claim for ticket money from any other expenses. This makes the complaint easier to assess.

Save what you send and the reply. A comment in an open comments section is less suitable than a message linked to your booking. Avoid publishing the ticket code, which others might try to use.

Where can you get help if the organiser does not answer?

You can investigate mediation through Forbrukertilsynet if a written complaint does not resolve the case. For non-delivery or bankruptcy, a claim to the card issuer may also be relevant.

Forbrukertilsynet is the authority that, among other things, offers mediation in consumer disputes. Check the current complaint process and what you must submit. SamfunnPrep explains more routes in its guide to making a consumer complaint.

Bankruptcy means that the company cannot pay its obligations. Forbrukerrådet points out that getting money from the organiser may be difficult in that situation. Paying with a credit card may give you an extra route through the bank.

See the guide to card claims for undelivered purchases. Contact your bank early and ask about deadlines and documentation for your card. SamfunnPrep's practical tools also support other everyday tasks.