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Cancelled or postponed events due to coronavirus: Can I get a refund?

1 April 2020, 14:49

Can I get my money back for cancelled events? Picture: PA Images

Glastonbury, the UEFA Euro 2020 and the Edinburgh Festival have all been cancelled - but can I get my money back?

With the UK government banning any gatherings of more than two people to limit the spread of coronavirus, all live events have been cancelled or postponed for the foreseeable.

This means those hoping to go to sports fixtures, music gigs and theatre shows will be wondering whether they will get their money back. Here’s everything you need to know…

Can I get a refund for a cancelled live event?

If you bought tickets directly from an official seller, organiser or ticket retailer, such as See Tickets or Ticketmaster, your money will be protected.

Under the regulatory body Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), they have to refund the ticket’s full price if an event is cancelled. However, delivery costs and booking fees are not included in this.

Glastonbury has been cancelled this year. Picture: PA Images

Unfortunately, if you bought tickets from a secondary ticket seller you are not protected by the same regulatory body.

You will have to check the terms and conditions on the website to see whether the tickets are refundable.

Some sites, like Viagogo, have already announced customers will get full refunds in the event of a cancellation.

Can I get a refund for a postponed live event?

When it comes to a postponed event, you should keep the tickets until the new date is announced.

If you can’t attend the new date and bought through the primary website, you will be able to claim a refund of the ticket’s price, not including delivery costs or booking fees.

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For example, UEFA says it will refund all Euro 2020 ticket holders who can't make any rearranged dates in 2021.

Again, if you purchased through a secondary ticket seller, you will have to check the small print. You may have to resell the ticket if you cannot attend the rescheduled date.