Ticket Scalpers Drive O2 London Ticket Prices Up to 490%

Music’s biggest acts are drawing more than just crowds to London’s O2 this summer—they’re attracting scalpers who are inflating ticket prices by up to five times their original value.

New analysis of over 1,000 tickets on uncapped resale sites reveals that fans hoping to catch shows like Billie Eilish, Diana Ross, and Lady Gaga are facing markups averaging hundreds of percent above face value. Some tickets were relisted at more than 1,100% over their original price.

The data exposes an industrial-scale operation: over 82% of Billie Eilish resale listings come from high-volume traders—those selling more than 100 tickets a year. Meanwhile, the vast majority of profits from these inflated sales bypass artists and their production crews, instead lining the pockets of scalpers who likely used bots to make the purchases ahead of eager fans.

The O2 is pushing for a 10% cap on resale markups, warning that scalpers are siphoning off an estimated £145 million ($198.65M) annually from music fans. With 72% of fans now supporting tighter regulation—pressure is mounting on the UK government to act. Take a look at some of the average resale markups for London’s most in-demand gigs.

Some tickets originally sold for a £97 ($132.89) price point are being relisted as high as £1,205 ($1,650.85)—a 1,149% increase at the cost of fans. High-volume traders dominate the resale market for top acts. The O2 and several industry leaders are calling for a strict 10% resale cap to protect fans and the live music ecosystem.

The call is similar to the law passed by Maine last month, becoming the first state in the United States to enact a law capping ticket resale prices at just 10% above face value. The bill also bans speculative ticketing and bots, while requiring full transparency, including all fees, to be disclosed at the time of purchase.

Earlier this year, the UK government launched a consultation into the resale ticketing market to give industry leaders and music fans the chance to share the impact that ticket scalpers are having on people’s ability to access live events. The O2 responded to the government’s consultation in response, calling for the 10% resale cap.