DC Made a New Law to Stop Ticket Resellers

MVEMNT StaffJuly 15, 20261 Mins read1

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The new rule limits how much extra people can charge to resell concert and play tickets. It also makes ticket websites show the full price up front and follow new rules to keep things fair.

Have you ever seen a concert ticket that costs way too much? A ticket that started at $40 can end up selling for hundreds of dollars online. DC just passed a new law to stop this.

On July 14, 2026, the DC Council voted yes on a new rule called the RESALE Act. Every council member voted for it. The law protects people who buy tickets to concerts and plays.

What the law does

The biggest part of the law is a price limit. When someone resells a ticket, they can only charge 10% more than the original price. So if a ticket first cost $100, no one can resell it for more than $110. The law also limits the extra fees that get added on top.

The law does other helpful things too:

People cannot sell tickets they do not actually have.
Ticket websites must show the full price up front, with no surprise fees at the end.
Websites cannot use your personal info to raise the price just for you.
People who sell lots of tickets have to sign up with the city and follow the rules.

What it covers

The law is only for live shows like concerts and plays. It does not cover sports games or movies. We wish it covered sports too, since fans pay big markups for games as well.

Who likes it and who does not

Many music venues and artists are very happy about the law. Places like the 9:30 Club helped push for it. They say scalpers make it too hard for regular fans to see shows they love.

But some ticket websites do not like the law. They say it might not lower prices and could cause new problems.

When it starts

The law is not ready yet. First, the mayor has to sign it. Then the U.S. Congress gets 30 days to look at it. If everything goes well, the law should start in January 2027.