Putting Fans First Act (No Ticket Resales Above Face Value), 2026

Summary#

• Bill 94 would make it illegal in Ontario to resell event tickets for more than their face value on the secondary market (resale sites or private resales). It also covers platforms that host or help these resales.

• The cap includes any fees or service charges. Taxes are not counted toward the cap.

• The change takes effect as soon as the bill becomes law.

• Key changes:

  • Bans listing or selling tickets above face value on any resale marketplace.
  • Bans platforms from facilitating sales above face value.
  • The price cap includes all added fees and service charges; only taxes can be added on top.
  • Closes prior rules that allowed above-face-value resales with conditions.
  • Applies to all events covered by Ontario’s Ticket Sales Act, 2017.

What it means for you#

• Buyers (fans)

  • You would not pay more than the original face value for a resold ticket, plus tax.
  • Example: If the face value is $100, a reseller cannot charge more than $100 before tax, even with fees.
  • Hot shows may have fewer resale listings, since markups would be banned.
  • You may see more face-value resales near show dates when people need to offload tickets quickly.

• Sellers (individuals and brokers)

  • You could still resell tickets, but only up to face value (before tax) including any fees you or the platform charge.
  • If you bought a ticket above face value on another site, you could not legally resell it at that higher price to recover your cost.
  • You might need to use platforms that allow face-value-only listings or arrange direct, face-value transfers.

• Marketplaces and platforms

  • You would need to prevent Ontario-related listings and sales above face value, and include your service fees within the cap.
  • You may need to verify event location and buyer/seller location, adjust price filters, and update checkout flows so total pre-tax price never exceeds face value.

• Event organizers, teams, and artists

  • Primary (original) sales are unaffected by this bill. You can still set initial prices and fees.
  • With fewer profit-driven resales, you may adjust primary pricing, release methods, or exchange policies to meet demand.

• General

  • The rule takes effect on the day the bill receives Royal Assent (the final step to become law).
  • Enforcement would occur under Ontario’s Ticket Sales Act, 2017.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• It stops price gouging and keeps tickets affordable for real fans.
• It removes the profit motive for scalpers and reduces bot-driven hoarding.
• Including fees in the cap prevents hidden markups and “junk fees.”
• Platforms will have to design their systems to protect consumers, not profit from resale markups.
• Quick start date helps fans right away for upcoming events.

Opponents' View#

• It may shrink the resale market, making it harder to find tickets for high-demand shows.
• Sellers who cannot mark up may move sales off-platform or out of province, increasing fraud risk.
• People who paid above face value on resale sites cannot recoup their costs, which some see as unfair.
• Enforcement could be difficult for listings on global platforms or private sales, limiting the bill’s real impact.
• Teams and promoters might respond by raising primary prices or using more restrictive ticketing to manage demand.