Access-Code Gated Tickets

Access-code gated tickets are hidden from your event page by default. Only buyers who enter the correct code can see and purchase them. Use them for presales, VIP tickets, member discounts, or any ticket type you don't want to offer to the general public.

Setting Up an Access Code

Access codes are set per ticket type, not per event.

1. Open your event in the dashboard and go to Ticket Types
2. Create a new ticket type or edit an existing one
3. Find the Access Code field and enter your code
4. Save the ticket type

The ticket type is now hidden from your public event page. Buyers will only see it after entering the correct code. Leave the field blank to keep a ticket type publicly visible.

Sharing Your Code

There is no limit to how many buyers can use the same code — it is a passphrase, not a single-use token. Share it however you like:

• In a presale announcement email to your mailing list
• In a private Slack, Discord, or group chat
• Printed on a membership card or past-event ticket
• Via direct message to VIPs

Access codes are not case-sensitive. "VIP2026", "vip2026", and "Vip2026" all work the same way.

The Buyer Experience

On your event page, buyers who do not have the code will not see the gated ticket type at all. A Have an access code? link is displayed beneath the visible ticket types.

When a buyer clicks that link, a text field appears where they can enter their code. If the code matches, the hidden ticket type becomes visible and they can add it to their order. If the code is wrong, they see: "Invalid access code. Please check and try again."

Combining with a Pricing Ladder

Access codes work well with the pricing ladder. A common pattern:

1. Create a presale ticket type with an access code and a lower price
2. Create a general admission ticket type with no access code at a higher price
3. Link them in a pricing ladder so the presale tier transitions to general admission when it sells out or on a specific date

Buyers with the presale code get early access at the presale price. When the presale closes, general admission opens automatically. See Pricing Ladder for how to configure the transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different codes for different groups?

Yes — create separate ticket types, each with its own code and its own price or allocation. For example: one ticket type for "MEMBER2026" (member discount) and another for "VIP" (VIP access), each hidden behind its own code.

Does the code expire?

The code itself does not have an expiration date — it remains active as long as the ticket type is available for purchase. If you want the gated ticket type to stop selling at a specific time, set its sale window end date in the ticket type settings, or use the pricing ladder's date trigger to close it automatically.

Can I see how many buyers used a specific code?

You can see how many tickets of each type have been sold from the event's ticket type breakdown. Since each code is attached to one ticket type, the sold count for that type tells you how many buyers used it.

What if I want to offer a discount without hiding the ticket type?

Use a promo code instead — see the promo codes guide. Promo codes apply a discount at checkout to visible ticket types. Access codes hide a ticket type entirely until the code is entered.

Still need help? Contact support.