Why won t my tickets have a barcode?

There are a few reasons why your event tickets may not have a barcode printed on them:

The event organizer didn’t include barcodes

The most common reason is that the event organizer or ticketing company simply chose not to include barcodes on the tickets. This is an intentional decision, not an error or oversight. Some events and venues don’t feel the need to use barcoded tickets for various reasons:

• They have other methods to verify the tickets, like manual visual inspection.
• The event is small enough that barcode scanning isn’t necessary.
• Barcodes add extra printing costs to the tickets.

So if your tickets don’t have barcodes, it may just be that the organizer felt they weren’t needed for that particular event. Unless it was explicitly advertised that the tickets would be barcoded, the lack of barcodes doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem.

Your tickets are digital only

If you purchased e-tickets or digital tickets, there won’t be any actual printed barcodes. Your tickets will likely be QR codes or PDF files with verification codes:

• QR codes – Many digital tickets use QR codes which can be scanned electronically at the venue for faster, more accurate verification.
• Print-at-home tickets – If you printed tickets at home, they may only show ticket details and verification numbers without barcodes.
• Mobile tickets – Mobile tickets are directly downloaded to your phone so there’s no printing involved. You simply show your phone screen for scanning.

So with digital formats, barcodes aren’t needed. The QR codes, verification codes, or mobile tickets provide the required ticket verification electronically.

Your tickets are will-call only

If you haven’t received actual tickets yet and need to pick them up in-person, they will likely be printed without barcodes:

• Will-call tickets are often basic vouchers with minimal details printed.
• They may only show the order number, section/row/seat info, and your name for identification at the box office.
• The actual barcoded event tickets are printed when you arrive and exchange the vouchers.

So the lack of barcodes on will-call vouchers is normal since the barcodes aren’t generated until the tickets are printed on-site.

There was a printing error

In rare cases, a mistake during the ticket printing process may result in barcodes getting left off some tickets. Reasons this could happen include:

• A glitch or malfunction with the barcode printing equipment.
• The template or settings were incorrectly configured.
• A batch didn’t print properly.
• A last minute event change wasn’t properly updated in the system.

If you suspect an error like this, contact the event organizer or box office immediately. They should be able to confirm if it was a printing problem and may be able to provide replacement tickets with correct barcodes.

The tickets are counterfeit

Lack of barcodes could also indicate the tickets are counterfeit or fake. Warning signs include:

• Tickets purchased from an unofficial third-party source.
• Prices that are much higher or lower than face value.
• Generic ticket templates instead of official branded event tickets.
• Misspellings, poor print quality, or other unprofessional details.

Fake tickets often lack the anti-fraud features like barcodes that are on legitimate tickets. If you suspect your tickets are counterfeit, contact the event organizer and ticket seller immediately. You may need to obtain genuine tickets before being allowed entry.

Old/unused tickets don’t have updated barcodes

If you’re trying to reuse tickets from a previous event or season, the barcodes are likely outdated and invalid:

• Event venues periodically update their barcode systems and regenerate all ticket barcodes.
• This helps prevent duplicated tickets and ensures each ticket scan is unique.
• Old tickets with previous barcodes won’t scan properly.

So unused or saved tickets with barcodes won’t work for future events. The venue won’t recognize the old barcode, requiring you to purchase new up-to-date tickets.

Conclusion

While barcoded tickets are commonplace nowadays, they aren’t necessarily required or included for all events. Reasons your tickets may lack barcodes include the event type and size, the ticket format (digital vs. print), will-call situations, printing errors, fake tickets, and outdated reused tickets.

If you were expecting barcodes but your tickets arrived without, contact the organizer or box office to understand why and resolve any potential issues. They can confirm if it was an intentional decision or error. For counterfeit ticket concerns, reporting it promptly gives you the best chance to obtain legitimate replacement tickets.