Ticketmaster is officially entering the Philippines through a partnership with SM Prime Holdings Inc., marking a major change for Filipino concertgoers and event fans.
The partnership will launch SM Ticketmaster, a new ticketing service that will take over the services currently handled by SM Tickets.
The move brings one of the world’s biggest ticketing platforms into a market where demand for concerts, fan meets, sports events and live entertainment has continued to grow.
SM Tickets Will Transition To SM Ticketmaster
SM Ticketmaster will provide ticketing services for fans, promoters, organizers and venues in the Philippines.
The new platform will combine Ticketmaster’s global ticketing technology, product tools and fraud prevention systems with SM Prime’s local market experience.
For customers, this means SM Tickets will begin transitioning to SM Ticketmaster in the coming weeks.
Existing SM Tickets account holders are being encouraged to register early with SM Ticketmaster so they can access the new service for upcoming events.
What SM Ticketmaster Will Cover
SM Ticketmaster will support concerts, sports events and other live experiences.
The service will cover SM Prime-owned venues such as SM Mall of Asia Arena, SMDC Festival Grounds and the upcoming SM Seaside Cebu Arena.
Ticketmaster is set to enter the Philippines through a partnership with SM Prime Holdings to provide end-to-end ticketing services for events within SM properties and third-party venues and promoters.
— GMA News (@gmanews) May 22, 2026
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It will also work with third-party venues, promoters and organizers.
That part matters. This is not just a rebrand of SM Tickets. It is a bigger ticketing push that could affect how major events are sold, managed and marketed in the Philippines.
Why Ticketmaster Is Entering The Philippines Now
The Philippines has become a stronger live entertainment market, with more international artists, K-pop acts, local tours and large-scale fan events drawing heavy demand.
SM Prime president Jeffrey C. Lim said the goal is to make the ticket-buying experience more reliable, secure and convenient for customers.
Ticketmaster APAC regional vice president Jim Kotsonis also said the Philippines is an important new market for the company, citing growing demand for major international tours, sports and local shows.
What This Means For Filipino Concertgoers
For Filipino fans, the biggest question is simple: will buying tickets become easier?
SM Ticketmaster is expected to bring stronger digital ticketing tools, better event management and more fraud prevention features. That could help address some of the usual pain points around high-demand shows, including long queues, ticket scalping and checkout problems.
But fans will still be watching closely.
Ticketmaster is a major global brand, but it has also faced criticism in other markets over ticketing fees, dynamic pricing and high-demand sale issues. In the Philippines, its early reception may depend on whether SM Ticketmaster can deliver a smoother and fairer buying experience.
SM Prime Sees More Events Ahead
SM Prime said it has a strong pipeline of concerts, events and experiences scheduled across its venues.
International acts expected to perform at SM Prime venues include Laufey, ITZY, Kodaline, Charlie Puth, LANY, Jason Mraz, 5 Seconds of Summer and EXO PLANET #6.
With SM Ticketmaster now entering the picture, future big-ticket events in the Philippines may soon be sold through the new platform instead of the familiar SM Tickets system.
For now, fans should watch for official announcements from SM Tickets, SM Ticketmaster and event organizers before creating accounts or buying tickets through any new links.
via: ABS-CBN News | Rappler | Live Nation Newsroom | GMA News
