2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Ticket Lottery Kicks Off
LOS ANGELES — The anticipation is mounting as the ticket lottery for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles kicks off this Wednesday. Fans are gearing up for their first chance to snag those coveted tickets.
This will mark a significant milestone for California, especially with the opening ceremony slated for July 2028.
To make the event accessible, organizers are mandating that fans pre-register before ticket sales begin. Tickets for all events will start at $28, with over a million seats offered at that price point. In fact, about a third of all tickets will be available for under $100.
“We’re thrilled to invite fans from around the globe to what we hope will be an unforgettable celebration showcasing the vibrancy of Los Angeles,” said LA28 Chairman and President Casey Wasserman.
In advance of the ticket launch, the organizing committee hosted over 300 Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, including well-known figures like Apolo Ohno and Nadia Comaneci. This gathering, notable for being one of the largest of its kind, set a vibrant tone for the forthcoming Olympics.
“Standing in such an iconic location, lighting the cauldron alongside incredible athletes was truly special as we celebrated this moment,” commented Janet Evans, the Chief Athlete Officer and five-time Olympic gold medalist.
Evans reflected on Los Angeles as “a perfect Olympic city,” highlighting how much the spirit of the Games is interwoven with the city’s identity. This will be the third time the Olympics are hosted in LA, and it will also be the first for the Paralympics.
Some events are slated to begin as early as July 12, 2028, including baseball, basketball, hockey, and water polo. It promises to be the largest Olympics ever, featuring over 11,000 athletes competing in 51 sports.
Additionally, this edition of the Games will mark a historic moment as women will outnumber men for the first time. The ceremonial lighting of the Olympic torch was described as a “milestone,” uniting Olympians from various Games dating back to 1960.
Although there are still two years left until the event, the race for tickets is already underway. Fans can begin registering starting Wednesday at 7 a.m. PT until March 18. However, registering doesn’t guarantee a ticket; it simply provides a chance to enter a random drawing for access.
The initial purchasing opportunity will be available from April 9 to April 19, 2026. Successful registrants will be notified via email, but there’s a catch: if you’re late or encounter connectivity issues, you might miss out, even if you’ve done everything else right.
Residents of the surrounding Southern California counties—Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Ventura, and San Bernardino—who register will automatically be entered into a local pre-sale event in early April 2026, ahead of the general sales.
When registering, fans should be ready with some personal details, like their name, email, and zip code—particularly important for those hoping to participate in local pre-sales. No credit card or registration fees are necessary at the registration stage, which, of course, feels quite friendly.
Those selected to purchase tickets later will need to provide credit card info and verify their zip code. LA28 representative Jaycee Pulito emphasized the intent behind this approach, stating that “accessibility and affordability are priorities for us.”
LA28 has also announced that local organizations will be given free tickets to share within their communities, although specifics about participating organizations are still being finalized.
In total, the committee aims to sell 14 million tickets, aiming for a new record, surpassing the 12 million that’s expected for the Paris Olympics.
Looking ahead, Evans expressed excitement about the gathering, stating it will showcase a unique convergence of people in one of the world’s premier sporting cities. “It’s sure to be emotional and a fresh experience, and I think people will truly enjoy it,” she added. “We are incredibly proud to bring the Olympics back home.”
