The wait is over for sports fans worldwide as registration for the LA28 Olympic ticket draw officially opened today, January 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT, marking the first critical step toward securing tickets for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. With at least one million tickets priced at just $28 and a commitment to affordability that sets a new standard for mega-events, LA28 organizers have launched what they call "the fairest way" for fans to access tickets through a random draw system. The registration period runs through March 18, 2026, with no advantage to signing up early—every registrant has an equal chance in the lottery that will determine time slots for purchasing tickets beginning in April.
How the LA28 Ticket Draw Works: Your Path to Olympic History
The LA28 ticket process represents a significant departure from traditional first-come, first-served systems. Instead, fans who register at Tickets.LA28.org between January 14 and March 18 will be entered into a random draw that assigns time slots for purchasing tickets. "No matter when you go in, whether you're the first person in or the last person in, you have the same opportunity," LA28's senior vice president of Games delivery revenue Allison Katz-Mayfield explained to Reuters. This system is specifically designed to prevent bots and ticket brokers from gaining unfair advantage while ensuring broad public access.
Key dates every fan needs to know: The first purchasing window, reserved exclusively for locals in Southern California and Oklahoma City counties, runs from April 2-6, 2026. Residents with billing postal codes in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Ventura, San Bernardino, Oklahoma, Canadian and Cleveland counties will be automatically entered for this early-access opportunity. The general public gets their chance during "Drop 1" from April 9-19, with fans notified by email between March 31 and April 7 if they've been assigned a time slot. Those not selected in the first draw will automatically be entered into subsequent ticket drops.
Timeline: The Road to LA28 Tickets from Announcement to Event Day
The journey to LA28 ticket accessibility began with December 2025 announcements about the $28 ticket commitment and January 14 registration date. Now that registration is live, the timeline progresses through several critical phases: The registration period (January 14-March 18), notification of time slots (March 31-April 7), locals presale (April 2-6), general public first drop (April 9-19), and subsequent ticket drops throughout 2026 and 2027. Paralympic tickets will go on sale separately in 2027, though fans only need to register once to be eligible for both Olympic and Paralympic draws.
LA28's ticketing timeline puts it a full year ahead of Paris 2024's schedule, reflecting both the complexity of organizing the largest Games in history and the commitment to giving fans ample planning time. The Games themselves will take place from July 14-30, 2028, with the Paralympics following from August 15-27. With 36 sports across 49 competition venues in 18 zones throughout Southern California and Oklahoma City, the ticketing process must accommodate what LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover calls "the greatest Games in history."
Why Affordable Tickets Matter: LA28's Response to World Cup Pricing Backlash
LA28's commitment to affordability comes amid significant public backlash against ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also hosted in North America. "These Games belong to everyone," LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman declared at Tuesday's Coliseum event. "These Games have to be affordable and inclusive, especially for the communities of Los Angeles and Oklahoma City where competitions will take place." The numbers back this commitment: one million tickets at $28 across all sports, one-third of all tickets under $100, and single-event tickets starting at the symbolic $28 price point that references the Games' LA28 branding.
The affordability initiative extends beyond ticket pricing. LA28 launched a fundraising campaign in November 2025 that has already secured millions from local sports teams and philanthropists to provide free tickets to community organizations. This dual approach—affordable pricing plus community access—reflects what Katz-Mayfield describes as ensuring tickets "get into the hands of fans and not brokers or bots." The ticketing process will be powered by official providers AXS and EVENTIM, with Visa serving as the official payment method, continuing its long-standing Olympic partnership.
Where Things Stand Now: Registration Opens Amid Historic Athlete Gathering
As registration opened this morning, LA28 marked the occasion with one of the largest gatherings of Olympic and Paralympic athletes ever assembled outside of competition. More than 300 athletes representing 28 different Games dating back to 1960 convened at the historic LA Memorial Coliseum for a ceremonial lighting of the Olympic cauldron. This athlete-centric event underscores what Hoover calls building "an athlete-centric Games" while generating global excitement for the ticket registration launch.
The current registration numbers will remain confidential until the March 31 notification period, but early indicators suggest strong global interest. Fans can register at Tickets.LA28.org using just their name, email, and zip code (for locals presale eligibility). There's no payment required for registration, and each account can purchase up to 12 Olympic tickets during their assigned time slot. Those who don't purchase their maximum allotment will automatically be entered into subsequent draws.
What Happens Next: The Path from Registration to 2028
Following today's registration opening, the next major milestone comes in late March when fans will learn if they've secured a time slot for the April purchasing windows. Beyond ticket sales, LA28 will continue venue preparations and operational planning for what will be Los Angeles' third Olympic Games (following 1932 and 1984) and first-ever Paralympic Games. The dual-venue opening ceremony at both the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium represents another historic first, while competition schedules have already been released to help fans plan their Olympic experiences.
For those not selected in initial draws, hope isn't lost—rolling ticket drops will continue through 2026 and into 2027, with Paralympic tickets becoming available next year. LA28's commitment to transparency means detailed pricing for all categories will be available when the first drop opens in April, giving fans complete information before making purchase decisions. The organization's independent non-profit status and strong commercial partnerships position it well to deliver on its affordability promises while creating what athletes and fans alike hope will be an unforgettable Games experience.
The Bottom Line: Key Points for Olympic Hopefuls
• Registration is open now through March 18 at Tickets.LA28.org—no payment required
• Everyone has equal chance in the random draw regardless of when they register
• Locals in Southern California and Oklahoma City get early access April 2-6
• General public ticket purchasing runs April 9-19 for first drop
• At least 1 million tickets priced at $28, one-third under $100
• Maximum 12 tickets per person, Paralympic tickets go on sale 2027
• Not selected in first draw? You're automatically entered for subsequent drops
With registration now live and the historic $28 ticket commitment in place, sports fans worldwide have their first real opportunity to plan their journey to what promises to be one of the most accessible and athlete-focused Olympic Games in history.
