By default, all ticket types are public and open to anyone on your event page.
You can lock a ticket type so it remains publicly visible but requires an access code to buy, or hide it completely until an access code reveals it.
Locked tickets, hidden tickets, and access codes are ideal for pre-sales, member and loyalty access, and complimentary or restricted tickets for VIPs, staff, artists, and sponsors.
Tip: You can use access codes to run pre-sale or early access campaigns.
Difference between public, locked, and hidden tickets
Visibility | Shown on your event page? | Who can buy it | Best for |
Public (default) | Yes | Anyone | Standard tickets |
Locked | Yes, with its price, marked as locked | Only buyers with an access code, until the lock ends | Pre-sales and early access where you want to advertise onsale prices before tickets go live |
Hidden | No | Only buyers with an access code that reveals it | Complimentary, staff, sponsor, or VIP tickets the public should not see |
How to lock a ticket type
When a ticket type is locked, it stays visible on your event page but cannot be purchased. Its price is still displayed. The buyer enters their access code to unlock and purchase the ticket type.
This is a great option for advertising early access or exclusive access ticket types - and their prices - to all buyers while restricting access.
To lock a ticket type:
Manage your event via the events tab
Go to tickets > ticket types via the left-hand menu
Click settings ⚙️ to the right of the ticket type you want to lock
Under visibility, select locked
Under lock choose how long a ticket should remain locked
Always
The ticket type will remain locked indefinitely until changed to public.For a custom date range
The ticket type will be locked between the set after and before dates. Both are optional. Outside of these dates, the ticket type will be public.
Click save
Example: A member pre-sale before the general on-sale
A 'General admission' ticket type costs $50 and goes on general sale on 1 December 2026 at 12:00 am.
Set general admission to locked, choose for a custom date range, and set lock before to 1 December 2026, 12:00 am.
Create an access code called MEMBER that applies to general admission, and share it with your members.
Before 1 December, every visitor can see general admission and its $50 price, and members can buy it with the code MEMBER. From 12:00 am on 1 December, general admission opens to everyone automatically.
How to hide a ticket type
When a ticket type is hidden, it is removed from your event's ticket selection page. Hidden tickets are revealed when a buyer enters an access code.
They are great for offering exclusive access to discounted or free tickets that should not be publicly available, such as for guests and guest lists, VIPs, staff, artists, or sponsors.
To hide a ticket type:
Manage your event via the events tab
Navigate to tickets > ticket types via the left-hand menu bar
Find or create the ticket type you would like to hide, then click the settings ⚙️ icon
Under visibility, select hidden, and choose when you want the ticket to stay hidden
Click save
How to create an access code
An access code works like a password and is entered on the ticket selection page to unlock locked ticket types or reveal hidden ticket types.
You can create multiple access codes, each applied to different ticket types.
Click promote > access codes via the left-hand menu
Click create code
Enter a code name, e.g. VIPACCESS
This is what a buyer will enter during checkout and appears in your reporting.Set the quantity
This is how many tickets can be purchased using this code across all orders. Leave the quantity blank if there is no limit.Under applies to, select the hidden or locked ticket type(s)
Click save
Create multiple access codes via a CSV file or spreadsheet
You can upload multiple access codes at once using a CSV file, which is useful for long lists of unique access codes, such as member numbers, sponsors, complimentary artist and guest access, or pre-sale buyers.
Click Create/Add Code
Choose CSV upload
Download the example CSV file provided, then copy and paste your data into each row: the access code name that will be created, and the quantity for each access code
Save your CSV file, then upload it by clicking choose file
Select the hidden or locked ticket types that these access codes will apply to
Click save
The access codes in an uploaded CSV file apply to every ticket type selected during that upload. If different lists of access codes need to apply to different ticket types, upload a separate CSV file for each list.
Testing your access codes. Before sharing your access codes with buyers, we recommend you test them:
Make a test ticket purchase using the access code
Confirm that the hidden ticket types appear, or the locked ticket types unlock, correctly
Confirm that any quantity limits work as expected
How do buyers use an access code to unlock or reveal tickets?
Once created, buyers can apply an access code to unlock or reveal hidden tickets in two ways:
Manual entry on the ticket selection page:
An access code field appears at the top of the ticket selection page. Buyers must enter the access code name exactly.
Via URL link
A unique link is automatically generated for every access code. When a buyer opens this link, the event page loads with the access code already applied, so no manual entry is required.
Commonly asked questions
Can I hide the access code field from the ticket selection page?
Can I hide the access code field from the ticket selection page?
Yes. Go to advanced > settings via the left-hand menu and select the checkout tab. Toggle ON code access only via link.
The access code field is removed from the ticket selection page. This affects ALL access codes.
Note: Buyers can only apply access codes using the unique URL link associated with that code.
Can a buyer apply more than one access code to their order?
Can a buyer apply more than one access code to their order?
No. Only one access code can be applied to each order.
A buyer can, however, apply one access code and one discount code in the same order.
For example, if a buyer should receive exclusive access to a complimentary ticket and a discount on a paid ticket. Create a hidden complimentary ticket type revealed by an access code, then create a separate discount code for a fixed or percentage amount off the paid ticket type. If the access code and the discount code share the same name, the buyer only needs to enter the code once.
Is a locked ticket the same as a conditional ticket?
Is a locked ticket the same as a conditional ticket?
No. A locked ticket type is unlocked by an access code or when its lock period ends. A conditional ticket type is unlocked when a buyer selects another ticket type that meets a condition you set, for example, an adult ticket unlocking a child ticket.
Can I limit the number of tickets a buyer can get with an access code?
Can I limit the number of tickets a buyer can get with an access code?
Yes. Each access code has its own quantity, which limits the number of tickets that can be purchased using that code, across all orders.
You can create multiple unique access codes for different buyers.
For example, you want to give complimentary tickets to two sponsors: Sponsor A is entitled to one ticket and Sponsor B is entitled to two tickets. The table below shows the two access codes you would create.
Access code | Quantity | Applies to ticket type |
[Unique code for Sponsor A] | 1 | Sponsor complimentary ticket |
[Unique code for Sponsor B] | 2 | Sponsor complimentary ticket |
Alternatively, you can create a 100% discount code to give buyers any general admission ticket for free. Creating separate ticket types for different audiences, such as Sponsor and General admission, makes it easier to track how many people from each audience have registered.
Can I apply an access code to a hidden packaged ticket?
Can I apply an access code to a hidden packaged ticket?
Yes, you can apply an access code to a hidden packaged ticket.
Note: a packaged ticket counts towards the access code quantity as one ticket, regardless of how many tickets the package includes. For example, you create a hidden "Group of 4" packaged ticket that includes 4 tickets. A buyer uses an access code to purchase 1 x Group of 4. This counts as 1 use of the access code.
Can a buyer apply more than one access code to their order?
Can a buyer apply more than one access code to their order?
No. Only one access code can be applied to each order.
A buyer can, however, apply one access code and one discount code in the same order.
For example, a buyer should receive exclusive access to a complimentary ticket and a discount on a paid ticket. Create a hidden complimentary ticket type revealed by an access code, then create a separate discount code for a fixed or percentage amount off the paid ticket type. If the access code and the discount code share the same name, the buyer only needs to enter the code once.
Can a buyer apply an access code and a discount code in the same order?
Can a buyer apply an access code and a discount code in the same order?
Yes. You can give buyers an access code and a discount code to apply in the same order. This is great if you're looking to offer both early access and a discount on the same or different ticket types.
When an access code and discount code are both created with the same name, both will apply automatically. For example:
You create a locked or hidden ticket type
You create an access code, e.g. "MEMBER" that applies to this ticket type
You also create a '100%' off discount code called "MEMBER" that applies to the same ticket type
When the buyer enters the code "MEMBER" the ticket type is both unlocked AND discounted by 100%.