June 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's

lawsuit seeking to break up entertainment industry giant Live

Nation and its Ticketmaster unit could go to trial in

early 2026, a judge in New York said on Thursday.

At the first hearing in the blockbuster antitrust lawsuit,

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian called the timeline

"appropriate" given the scope of the case but did not set a firm

date. Live Nation said it would push to transfer the case to

Washington, D.C.

The Justice Department, 29 states and the District of

Columbia in May accused Live Nation and Ticketmaster of

unlawfully monopolizing the live events industry, harming

artists and causing consumers to pay higher ticket prices.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster have denied any wrongdoing,

asserting that the market has never been more competitive.

Thursday's hearing in Manhattan and court filings this week

offered a glimpse at the legal battle ahead, which comes more

than a decade after the Justice Department agreed to allow Live

Nation to merge with Ticketmaster.

Live Nation and Justice Department spokespeople did not

immediately respond to requests for comment.

Subramanian met for about an hour on Thursday with lawyers

for both sides.

Live Nation attorney David Marriott said at the hearing that

the company planned to argue that the case should be heard in

Washington, where a judge in 2010 approved a consent decree

allowing the merger with Ticketmaster to take place.

The D.C. court retained control over issues tied to the

consent decree, Marriott said.

Justice Department attorney Bonny Sweeney at the hearing

countered that the new case was "vastly" broader than what was

addressed by the earlier consent judgment.

Subramanian said he was inclined to keep his control over

the lawsuit but would weigh Live Nation's arguments.

More states are preparing to join the lawsuit, Sweeney said

at the hearing, and indicated that the government planned to

file an amended lawsuit.

The Justice Department has asked for a jury trial.

The case is United States, et al v. Live Nation

Entertainment ( LYV ), et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of

New York, No. 1:24-cv-0397-AS.