With standard Wednesday entry tickets now officially sold out, people are already wondering how Boomtown’s ticket resales will work this time around. While organisers have not yet released specific details for the 2026 resale window, the process has followed a strict, consistent pattern in recent years. By analysing the data from the previous festival cycle, we can predict exactly how—and when—you will likely be able to secure a ticket for Chapter 5: Radical Redesign.
Unlike many other major festivals, Boomtown typically operates two distinct resale phases: an official release of tickets from failed payment plans, followed by the opening of a peer-to-peer marketplace. Understanding the difference between these two drops is crucial for anyone hoping to secure entry to the Matterley Estate this August.
Phase 1: The ‘Failed Payment Plan’ Resale
Historically, the first major opportunity to pick up a resale ticket occurs in late May. This sale consists of tickets that have been cancelled and returned to the pot because the original buyers missed their instalment deadlines.
Based on the timeline for the previous festival, where the official resale launched on 29th May, we expect a similar window for 2026. This is often the best chance to secure high-demand ticket types, as these will be released back into circulation if previous owners default on their plans.
How it typically works:
- Sign-up Required: Organisers usually open a specific mailing list for this sale. In previous years, emails with purchase links were sent out around 10:00 AM, giving subscribers a two-hour head start before the general public sale at 12:00 PM.
- High Demand: Data from the last cycle showed over 20,000 people in the queue for just “a few thousand” tickets.
- Ticket Limits: Customers have historically been limited to a maximum of four tickets per person.
- Payment: Payment plans are generally not available at this late stage, though Klarna (Pay-in-3) has been offered as an alternative.
Phase 2: The Citizen-to-Citizen Marketplace
Once the bulk of returned tickets are sold, Boomtown typically activates its Citizen-to-Citizen resale marketplace. In the last cycle, this platform opened on 9th June.
This system is operated exclusively through Kaboodle’s ticket resale platform, the festival’s official ticketing partner. It allows ticket holders to list their unwanted tickets securely, ensuring that the new buyer receives a valid QR code in their own name.
Key rules for buyers and sellers:
- Price Capping: Sellers cannot inflate prices. The system is designed to be fair, usually refunding the seller the face value (minus booking fees) once the ticket is bought by another fan.
- Private Transfers: Crucially, you cannot use the general marketplace to transfer a ticket to a specific person. If you list a ticket, it goes into a general public pot.
- Friend Transfers: The only exception to the above rule is if you personally know the buyer. In previous years, you could contact the Kaboodle help desk directly to arrange a specific name change for a fee, bypassing the public queue.
What will resale tickets cost?
Because Boomtown tickets are sold in tiered phases throughout the year, the price of resale tickets can vary depending on current availability and the final tier reached. Fans should be prepared for tickets to cost up to the final release price plus booking fees, as returned tickets are often resold at their face value or the current market rate.
Based on the latest pricing tiers, you should budget approximately £405 for the highly sought-after Standard Wednesday Entry tickets. Thursday Entry tickets are currently priced at £355, while the remaining Public Transport options range between £305 and £375. While the main sale offers instalment plans, resale tickets typically require immediate payment in full, though Klarna options have been available in previous years.
Warning: Avoid Third-Party Platforms
Boomtown maintains one of the strictest anti-scalping policies in the UK festival circuit. The organisers explicitly ban the use of third-party platforms including Tixel, Twickets, Viagogo, and TicketSwap.
The risks of ignoring this rule are significant. According to official figures released by the festival, 172 people were turned away at the gates during the last event due to fraudulent tickets bought from unauthorised sources.
The festival’s policy is clear: “The only way to guarantee your entry to Boomtown is with a legitimate ticket purchased via Kaboodle”. Even if a seller on social media appears genuine, a ticket that does not match the name on your ID may be invalid upon arrival.
Why is demand so high this year?
The scramble for resale tickets has intensified following the launch of “Chapter 5: Radical Redesign”. The booking of cross-genre headliners like Madness, Scissor Sisters, and Kneecap has broadened the festival’s appeal significantly.
With over 50% of tickets sold before November 2025 and Thursday entry prices already reaching Tier 5, the resale market will likely be the only route left for many latecomers. We advise fans to keep a close eye on their inbox in late May and avoid panic-buying from social media scammers in the interim.
Image credits:
Lucas Sinclair
Paul Whitely
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