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LOS ANGELES — On your marks, get set — stand in line.

Olympics fans will get their first shot at seats for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles when the ticket lottery opens Wednesday at 7 a.m PT.

But there’s a catch. Fans who really want to get in — without paying through the nose on the secondary market will have to be faster, stronger — and more patient.


  The international event will draw in millions of spectators to the sprawling city. AP The international event will draw in millions of spectators to the sprawling city. AP

  Fans living in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura counties will qualify for an exclusive locals presale in April 2026. Getty Images for LA28 Fans living in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura counties will qualify for an exclusive locals presale in April 2026. Getty Images for LA28

Entering the lottery doesn’t guarantee you seats.

Fans must register during the initial window — which runs through March 18.

They will then be entered into a random ticket lottery. Winners are randomly assigned a time slot, which gives them a chance to buy tickets.

But there’s some good news: one million tickets are set at a base price of $28.

“Every sport starts at $28, and that’s not just lip service to a couple of tickets in the corner of some venue, but a meaningful number of tickets,” said Allison Katz-Mayfield, LA28’s senior vice president of Games delivery revenue. “We’re looking at at least a million tickets at $28, and about a third of our tickets will be priced under $100.”

And it gets even better for Southern California residents.


  The ticket draw for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will open Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. Getty Images The ticket draw for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will open Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. Getty Images

  Olympic tickets are expected to go on sale later in 2026, while Paralympic tickets will become available in 2027. AP Olympic tickets are expected to go on sale later in 2026, while Paralympic tickets will become available in 2027. AP

People living in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura counties will qualify for an exclusive local presale ticket in April 2026 — but you have to enter the lottery to be eligible.

The next 64 days will not be as smooth as buying a lottery card. There are many caveats,

Miss your window, lose your Wi-Fi, or show up late in the queue, and you’re out of luck.


  The 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 14 to July 30. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 14 to July 30. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Even if you do everything right, tickets could already be gone by the time your slot opens — making Olympic seats just as hard, if not harder, to snag than Taylor Swift concert tickets.

General public tickets will go on sale in late 2026, with Paralympic tickets becoming available in 2027.

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