How do I set up a waitlist for my event on Eventbrite?

You can enable the waitlist feature from your event's dashboard once your event has sold out. Go to your 'Tickets' section to find the waitlist settings and activate it to begin collecting names automatically.

Does it cost extra to use the waitlist feature?

No, the waitlist feature is included with your Eventbrite account. Standard ticketing fees apply only when a ticket is successfully sold to someone from the waitlist, just like any other ticket sale.

How are attendees notified when a spot opens up?

When a ticket becomes available, Eventbrite automatically offers automatic waitlist tickets to the first person on the list. They receive an email with a unique link to register and claim their spot within a set time frame.

Can I control the size of my event waiting list?

Yes, you have full control. When setting up your waitlist, you can specify the maximum number of people who can join, allowing you to manage attendee expectations effectively.

What happens if someone on the waitlist doesn't claim their ticket in time?

If an attendee doesn't register within the time limit you've set, their spot is forfeited. The system then automatically sends a notification to the next person on the event waiting list, ensuring the process is fair and efficient.

Can I see who is on my waitlist?

Yes, you can view the list of people who have joined your sold out event waitlist from your event dashboard. This helps you understand the level of demand for your event.

Event Waitlist Management for Sold-Out Events | Eventbrite

Waitlist Management

Maximize your attendance and capture every bit of interest with our seamless event waitlist management tools. Never miss a potential attendee when your event sells out.

How to manage a waitlist for your sold-out event

When you have a high-demand event, selling out is just the beginning. A waitlist helps you manage continued interest, fill seats from last-minute cancellations, and give eager fans a chance to attend. It turns a "sold out" message into an opportunity.

Setting up your waitlist on Eventbrite is straightforward. Once your event's tickets are no longer available, you can activate the waitlist feature directly from your event dashboard. Here’s how it works:

Activate the Waitlist: Enable the feature to automatically start collecting names once you hit capacity.
Capture Attendee Interest: Interested individuals can add themselves to your event waiting list, securing their place in line.
Send Automatic Offers: When a ticket becomes available due to a cancellation or refund, the system sends an automatic waitlist notification to the next person in line.
Fill Every Seat: The attendee has a limited time to claim the ticket. If they don't, the offer automatically goes to the next person, ensuring you maintain a full house.

Eventbrite: your command center for managing demand

Our waitlist tools are integrated with your ticketing and reporting to give you a complete picture of your event's popularity.

Activate Your Waitlist

When your event sells out, enable the waitlist with a single click. You can set the maximum number of people who can join to manage expectations.

Automate Ticket Offers

Free up your time. When a spot opens, Eventbrite automatically offers the ticket to the next person on the list, ensuring seats don't stay empty.

Track Waitlist Activity

See how many people have joined your waitlist right from your event dashboard. Use this data to gauge demand and plan for future events.

Why use Eventbrite for your event waitlist?

Join a platform that helps you connect with a global community of more than 89M monthly average users.

An empty theater waiting for an audience, symbolizing how a waitlist can fill every seat.

Fill Every Last Seat

Cancellations happen. An automatic waitlist helps you resell returned tickets instantly, protecting your revenue and ensuring a full house for your sold out event. Keep your attendance numbers high without lifting a finger.

Rows of chairs in an empty conference hall, representing the need to gauge event demand.

Gauge True Event Demand

Your waitlist is valuable data. Understand the real interest in your events to plan better for the future, from choosing a larger venue to adjusting ticket pricing for your next big event.

A festival stage at dusk before the crowd arrives, showing a great attendee experience starts early.

Improve the Attendee Experience

Don't turn away eager fans with a simple 'Sold Out' notice. Offering an event waiting list shows you value their interest and gives them a fair, automated chance to attend, building goodwill and loyalty.

Essential tools for your high-demand event

Eventbrite's waitlist feature is part of a complete toolkit designed to help you sell out and stay sold out, all in one place.

A modern and clean auditorium ready for an event, managed with Eventbrite's tools.

Integrated Ticketing

Your waitlist works seamlessly with your ticket types. When a paid ticket is refunded, a spot automatically opens up for the next person on your waitlist.

Automated Notifications

We handle the communication. Attendees receive a timely waitlist notification email with a clear link to claim their spot, with no manual work required from you.

Flexible Capacity

Easily set and adjust the capacity for your waitlist. Decide how many people can join to keep the list manageable and realistic for your event size.

Reporting & Analytics

Track your waitlist size and conversion rate. Access reports to see how many waitlist offers were accepted to inform your future event strategy and prove demand.

Promotion is vital to ticket sales — and Eventbrite's marketing tools are amazing for reaching the right audience.Whit B., Senior Marketing and Communications Professional

I just really fell in love with [Eventbrite]. It’s easy to use. It’s easy to make changes. It’s robust.Denise Meredith, CEO, World’s Best Connectors

I love Eventbrite’s simplicity and how easy it is to get started…the value and simplicity we can offer using Eventbrite will secure more registrations and help our conferences grow even further.Morgan Laskey, Community Marketing Events Manager, Klaviyo

Frequently asked questions

Ready to manage demand for your sold-out events?

Create your event on Eventbrite and see how easy it is to set up an automated waitlist. Get started today to ensure a full house, every time.