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Vivid Seats Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
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Vivid Seats Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
Mar 12, 2026 3:49 AM

CHICAGO, March 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vivid Seats Inc. ( SEAT ) (“Vivid Seats” or “we”), a leading marketplace that utilizes its technology platform to connect millions of buyers with thousands of ticket sellers across hundreds of thousands of events each year, today provided financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025 along with guidance for the first quarter ending March 31, 2026 and full year ending December 31, 2026.

“The trends we are seeing in the first quarter confirm that our strategy and execution are delivering measurable results,” said Lawrence Fey, Chief Executive Officer of Vivid Seats ( SEAT ). “We are enhancing our foundational strengths that include our leading technology, unique data assets, relentless focus on efficiency, and differentiated customer value proposition. We are particularly encouraged by the positive impact and momentum we are seeing from the impact of our enhanced App value proposition coupled with our cost reduction program.”

Fourth Quarter 2025 Key Operational and Financial Metrics

Marketplace GOV of $580.6 million – down 42% from $994.4 million in Q4 2024Revenues of $126.8 million – down 37% from $199.8 million in Q4 2024Net loss of $428.7 million – down $424.2 million from a net loss of $4.4 million in Q4 2024Adjusted EBITDA of $0.8 million – down $33.4 million from $34.2 million in Q4 2024

Full Year 2025 Key Operational and Financial Metrics

Marketplace GOV of $2,704.6 million – down 31% from $3,892.6 million in 2024Revenues of $570.8 million – down 26% from $775.6 million in 2024Net loss of $721.5 million – down $735.8 million from net income of $14.3 million in 2024Adjusted EBITDA of $41.8 million – down $109.6 million from $151.4 million in 2024

Key Business Metrics and Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measure

We use the following metrics to evaluate our performance, identify trends, formulate financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We believe these metrics provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations in the same manner as management.

The following table summarizes our key business metrics and non-U.S. GAAP financial measure for the three months and years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):

  Three Months Ended December 31,     Years Ended December 31,  
  2025     2024     2025     2024  
Marketplace GOV(1) $ 580,587     $ 994,377     $ 2,704,573     $ 3,892,645  
Marketplace orders(2)   1,766       2,613       8,336       11,556  
Resale orders(3)   111       115       428       431  
Adjusted EBITDA(4) $ 840     $ 34,243     $ 41,822     $ 151,419  

(1)   Marketplace Gross Order Value (“Marketplace GOV”) represents the total transactional amount of Marketplace orders processed on our online platform during a period, inclusive of fees, exclusive of taxes, and net of event cancellations. During the three months and year ended December 31, 2025, event cancellations negatively impacted Marketplace GOV by $13.5 million and $60.7 million, respectively, compared to $21.1 million and $95.9 million during the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively.
     
(2)   Marketplace orders represent the total volume of Marketplace segment transactions processed on our online platform during a period, net of event cancellations. During the three months and year ended December 31, 2025, our Marketplace segment experienced 34,307 and 163,919 event cancellations, respectively, compared to 43,019 and 222,472 event cancellations during the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively.
     
(3)   Resale orders represent the total volume of Resale segment transactions processed on a given platform (including our own) during a period, net of event cancellations. During the three months and year ended December 31, 2025, our Resale segment experienced 943 and 4,702 event cancellations, respectively, compared to 792 and 5,286 event cancellations during the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively.
     
(4)   Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure not defined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). We believe adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations and serves as a useful measure for making period-to-period comparisons of our business performance. See “Adjusted EBITDA” below for more information, including a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure.
     

Financial Outlook for Full Year 2026

For the year ending December 31, 2026, Vivid Seats ( SEAT ) anticipates:

Marketplace GOV in the range of $2.2 billion to $2.6 billionAdjusted EBITDA in the range of $30.0 million to $40.0 million*

Financial Outlook for Q1 2026

For the quarter ending March 31, 2026, Vivid Seats ( SEAT ) anticipates:

Marketplace GOV in the range of $570.0 million to $620.0 millionAdjusted EBITDA in the range of $8.0 million to $10.0 million*Cash balance of $125.0 million to $135.0 million

* We calculate forward-looking adjusted EBITDA based on internal forecasts that omit certain information that would be included in forward-looking net income (loss), the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. We do not attempt to provide a reconciliation of forward-looking adjusted EBITDA to forward-looking net income (loss) because the timing and/or probable significance of certain excluded items that have not yet occurred and are outside of our control is inherently uncertain and unavailable without unreasonable efforts. Such items could have a significant and unpredictable impact on our future U.S. GAAP financial results.

Webcast Details

Vivid Seats ( SEAT ) will host a webcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results, business updates, and financial outlook. Participants may access the live webcast and supplemental earnings presentation on the events page of the Vivid Seats Investor Relations website at investors.vividseats.com/events-and-presentations.

About Vivid Seats ( SEAT )

Founded in 2001, Vivid Seats ( SEAT ) is a leading online ticket marketplace committed to becoming the ultimate partner for connecting fans to the live events, artists, and teams they love. Based on the belief that everyone should “Experience It Live,” the Chicago-based company provides exceptional value by providing one of the widest selections of events and tickets in North America and an industry leading Vivid Seats Rewards program where all fans earn on every purchase. Through its proprietary software and unique technology, Vivid Seats ( SEAT ) drives the consumer and business ecosystem for live event ticketing and enables the power of shared experiences to unite people. Vivid Seats ( SEAT ) has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Companies for Customer Service in ticketing. Fans who want to have the best live experiences can start by downloading the Vivid Seats ( SEAT ) mobile app, going to vividseats.com, or calling 866-848-8499.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “propose,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” and “would,” as well as similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or do not relate to historical matters, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release relate to, without limitation: our future operating results and financial performance, including our expectations with respect to our return to growth, our fiscal year 2026 Marketplace GOV and adjusted EBITDA, and our first quarter 2026 Marketplace GOV, adjusted EBITDA, and cash balance; our expectations with respect to live event industry growth, concert supply, and our competitive positioning; our business strategy and objectives; and the expected benefits, including future savings, of our cost reduction program and the transactions consummated pursuant to our corporate simplification agreement, dated October 31, 2025 (collectively, the “Corporate Simplification”). Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions, or results, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that can be difficult to predict and/or are outside of our control. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the supply of and demand for live events; the impact of adverse economic conditions and other factors affecting discretionary consumer and corporate spending; our ability to develop and maintain relationships with ticket buyers, sellers, and partners; the impact of changes to internet search engine algorithms and mobile app marketplace rules; the impact of artificial intelligence on how consumers search for live event tickets; our ability to attract ticket sellers and buyers to our platform in the increasingly competitive ticketing industry; our ability to continue to maintain and improve our platform; the impact of extraordinary events, including disease epidemics; our ability to identify suitable acquisition targets and to complete and realize the expected benefits of acquisitions and other strategic investments; our ability to attract, hire, motivate, and retain our senior management team and other highly skilled personnel; our ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; the ability of ticket holders to sell their tickets on the secondary market unencumbered; the impact of unfavorable outcomes in legislation and legal proceedings; our ability to maintain the integrity of our information systems and infrastructure, and to identify, assess, and manage relevant cybersecurity risks; our ability to generate sufficient cash flows and/or obtain additional financing when necessary or desirable; our ability to realize the expected benefits, including future savings, of our cost reduction program and/or the Corporate Simplification (including due to changes in applicable laws or fluctuations in our taxable income); and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as in our press releases and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contact:

Investors

[email protected]

Media

[email protected]

VIVID SEATS INC. ( SEAT )
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
           
  December 31,     December 31,  
  2025     2024  
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents $ 102,702     $ 243,482  
Restricted cash   604       1,166  
Accounts receivable – net   30,664       48,315  
Inventory – net   18,166       19,601  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   26,336       32,607  
Total current assets   178,472       345,171  
Property and equipment – net   12,373       12,567  
Right-of-use assets – net   10,515       12,008  
Intangible assets – net   141,528       233,116  
Goodwill – net   283,915       943,119  
Deferred tax assets – net   1,123       77,967  
Investments   5,365       6,929  
Other assets   3,575       5,219  
Total assets $ 636,866     $ 1,636,096  
Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' equity (deficit)          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable $ 153,418     $ 232,984  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   125,957       165,047  
Deferred revenue   19,973       23,804  
Current maturities of long-term debt   3,930       3,950  
Total current liabilities   303,278       425,785  
Long-term debt – net   383,431       384,960  
Long-term lease liabilities   16,452       18,731  
TRA liability         155,720  
Other liabilities   18,834       36,865  
Total liabilities   721,995       1,022,061  
Commitments and contingencies          
Redeemable noncontrolling interests         352,922  
Shareholders' equity (deficit):          
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 11,712,157 and 7,190,975 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively   23       14  
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized, zero and 3,811,250 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively         8  
Additional paid-in capital   1,368,067       1,267,710  
Treasury stock, at cost, 949,665 and 571,687 shares at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively   (93,920 )     (75,568 )
Accumulated deficit   (1,359,472 )     (930,171 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   173       (880 )
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)   (85,129 )     261,113  
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' equity (deficit) $ 636,866     $ 1,636,096  

VIVID SEATS INC. ( SEAT )
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
           
  Three Months Ended December 31,     Years Ended December 31,  
  2025     2024     2025     2024  
Revenues $ 126,814     $ 199,813     $ 570,776     $ 775,586  
Costs and expenses:                      
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)   42,144       52,477       173,438       201,854  
Marketing and selling   56,677       79,452       230,562       285,146  
General and administrative   34,343       52,398       173,880       202,123  
Depreciation and amortization   11,703       12,584       49,392       44,238  
Impairment charges   402,574             723,023        
Total costs and expenses   547,441       196,911       1,350,295       733,361  
Income (loss) from operations   (420,627 )     2,902       (779,519 )     42,225  
Interest expense – net   6,331       6,466       23,741       23,172  
Other expense (income) – net   2,408       (430 )     (151,956 )     (3,666 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt               801        
Income (loss) before income taxes   (429,366 )     (3,134 )     (652,105 )     22,719  
Income tax expense (benefit)   (704 )     1,281       69,385       8,417  
Net income (loss)   (428,662 )     (4,415 )     (721,490 )     14,302  
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests   (153,504 )     (3,528 )     (292,189 )     4,877  
Net income (loss) attributable to Class A common stockholders $ (275,158 )   $ (887 )   $ (429,301 )   $ 9,425  

VIVID SEATS INC. ( SEAT )
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
     
  Years Ended December 31,  
  2025     2024  
Cash flows from operating activities          
Net income (loss) $ (721,490 )   $ 14,302  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   49,392       44,238  
Amortization of leases   1,514       1,697  
Amortization of deferred financing costs   970       988  
Equity-based compensation   36,734       50,429  
Change in fair value of Intermediate Warrants   (5,924 )     (4,044 )
Loss on asset disposals   555       277  
Change in fair value of derivative asset   2,201       800  
Deferred income tax expense   74,746       1,246  
Non-cash interest expense (income) – net   651       (890 )
Foreign currency loss (gain) – net   (126 )     4,056  
Adjustment of liabilities under TRA   (150,719 )     (6,166 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt   801        
Impairment charges   723,023        
Write-off of Sponsorship Loan   2,024        
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable – net   17,545       9,776  
Inventory – net   1,434       1,413  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   5,820       1,161  
Accounts payable   (79,463 )     (23,691 )
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   (35,787 )     (30,164 )
Deferred revenue   (3,831 )     (10,870 )
Long-term lease liabilities   (2,302 )     (994 )
Other assets and liabilities – net   (9,367 )     358  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   (91,599 )     53,922  
Cash flows from investing activities          
Purchases of property and equipment   (2,164 )     (4,227 )
Purchases of personal seat licenses   (983 )     (737 )
Investments in developed technology   (16,108 )     (19,014 )
Purchases of seat images   (919 )     (347 )
Disbursement of Sponsorship Loan         (2,000 )
Payments toward Acquired Domain Name Obligation         (417 )
Net cash used in investing activities   (20,174 )     (26,742 )
Cash flows from financing activities          
Payments of 2022 First Lien Loan         (689 )
Payments of Shoko Chukin Bank Loan         (2,655 )
Proceeds from 2024 First Lien Loan         125,500  
Repurchases of Class A common stock   (18,295 )     (22,982 )
Tax distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests   (1,689 )     (10,014 )
Payments of taxes related to net settlement of equity incentive awards   (1,886 )     (714 )
Payment of deferred financing costs and other debt-related expenses   (162 )     (315 )
Payment of liabilities under TRA   (4,005 )     (77 )
Payments of 2024 First Lien Loan   (76,986 )     (1,975 )
Proceeds from 2025 First Lien Loan   76,986        
Payments of 2025 First Lien Loan   (2,948 )      
Payments toward Acquired Domain Name Obligation   (2,000 )      
Mergers and exchange of Class B common stock for Class A common stock in connection with Corporate Simplification   1,621        
Repurchase and retirement of fractional shares resulting from Reverse Stock Split   (5 )      
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (29,369 )     86,079  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash   (200 )     (1,045 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash   (141,342 )     112,214  
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – beginning of period   244,648       132,434  
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – end of period $ 103,306     $ 244,648  
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information          
Cash paid for interest $ 27,681     $ 19,498  
Cash paid for income taxes $ 6,369     $ 5,469  

Adjusted EBITDA

We present adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, because it is a key measure used by analysts, investors, and others to evaluate companies in our industry. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by management to make operating decisions, including those related to analyzing operating expenses, evaluating performance, and performing strategic planning and annual budgeting.

We believe adjusted EBITDA is useful for understanding, evaluating, and highlighting trends in our operating results and for making period-to-period comparisons of our business performance because it excludes the impact of items that are outside of our control and/or not reflective of ongoing performance related directly to the operation of our business.

Adjusted EBITDA is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect all amounts associated with our operating results as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and specifically excludes certain recurring costs such as income tax expense (benefit), interest expense – net, depreciation and amortization, sales tax liabilities, transaction costs, equity-based compensation, litigation, settlements, and related costs, change in fair value of the Intermediate Warrants (as defined below), loss on asset disposals, change in fair value of derivative asset, foreign currency loss (gain) – net, adjustment of liabilities under our former Tax Receivable Agreement (the “TRA”) entered into with the existing unitholders of Hoya Intermediate, LLC, loss on extinguishment of debt, impairment charges, and severance compensation. In addition, other companies may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative tool. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the U.S. GAAP amounts that are excluded from our presentation of adjusted EBITDA.

The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, for the three months and years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):

  Three Months Ended December 31,     Years Ended December 31,  
  2025     2024     2025     2024  
Net income (loss) $ (428,662 )   $ (4,415 )   $ (721,490 )   $ 14,302  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA:                      
Income tax expense (benefit)   (704 )     1,281       69,385       8,417  
Interest expense – net   6,331       6,466       23,741       23,172  
Depreciation and amortization   11,703       12,584       49,392       44,238  
Sales tax liability(1)   18       3,147       (842 )     5,760  
Transaction costs(2)   1,936       2,877       10,752       9,528  
Equity-based compensation(3)   2,848       12,144       36,734       50,429  
Litigation, settlements, and related costs(4)   11       486       944       650  
Change in fair value of Intermediate Warrants(5)   (211 )     1,669       (5,924 )     (4,044 )
Loss on asset disposals(6)   175       117       555       277  
Change in fair value of derivative asset(7)   1,360       263       2,201       800  
Foreign currency loss (gain) – net(8)   2,237       3,790       (126 )     4,056  
Adjustment of liabilities under TRA(9)   (932 )     (6,166 )     (150,719 )     (6,166 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt(10)               801        
Impairment charges(11)   402,574             723,023        
Severance compensation(12)   2,156             3,395        
Adjusted EBITDA $ 840     $ 34,243     $ 41,822     $ 151,419  

(1)   During the periods presented, we accrued for additional uncollected indirect tax liabilities in jurisdictions where we believed it was probable we should remit payment to U.S. and foreign governmental tax authorities before all required amounts are collected from the customer. We also received abatements and recognized other reductions to the balance of the liability related to uncollected indirect taxes (including sales taxes).
     
(2)   Consists of (i) legal, accounting, tax, and other professional fees, (ii) personnel costs related to retention bonuses, (iii) integration costs, and (iv) other transaction-related expenses, none of which are considered indicative of our core operating performance. Costs in the three months and year ended December 31, 2025 primarily related to the February 2025 refinancing of our first lien term loan, repurchases of Class A common stock, a reverse split of our common stock, the Corporate Simplification, and various strategic transactions and investments. Costs in the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 primarily related to the June 2024 refinancing of our first lien term loan, repurchases of Class A common stock, and various strategic transactions and investments.
     
(3)   Costs in the three months and year ended December 31, 2025 primarily related to equity granted by us pursuant to our 2021 Incentive Award Plan (as amended, the “Incentive Award Plan”), which is not considered indicative of our core operating performance. Costs in the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 primarily related to equity granted by us pursuant to the Incentive Award Plan, as well as profits interests issued by Hoya Topco, LLC prior to the 2021 transaction pursuant to which Horizon Acquisition Corporation merged with and into us (the “Merger Transaction”), neither of which are considered indicative of our core operating performance.
     
(4)    Relates to external legal costs, settlement costs, and insurance recoveries, none of which are considered indicative of our core operating performance.
     
(5)   Relates to the revaluation of warrants issued in connection with the Merger Transaction (the “Intermediate Warrants”) that entitled Hoya Topco, LLC to purchase common units of Hoya Intermediate, LLC, which revaluations are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
     
(6)   Relates to disposals of fixed assets, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
     
(7)   Relates to the revaluation of derivatives recorded at fair value, which revaluations are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
     
(8)   Relates to net losses (gains) resulting from the impact of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in non-functional currencies, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
     
(9)   Relates to the remeasurement and settlement of the TRA liability, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
     
(10)   Relates to losses incurred in connection with the extinguishment of our former first lien term loan, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
     
(11)   Relates to non-cash impairment charges related to our goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets triggered by the effects of recent declines in our financial performance, near-term outlook, and Class A common stock price, among other factors.
     
(12)   Relates to severance-related payments made to terminated employees as a result of a reduction in employee headcount and the departure of certain members of our leadership team, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.

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Source: Vivid Seats LLC

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