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DEAG reports stable first-half results
September2
DEAG Deutsche Entertainment AG, the German-based live entertainment and ticketing group, reported revenue of €157.4 million for the first half of 2026, slightly above the €155.4 million recorded in the same period last year, while continuing its acquisition strategy and investment in ticketing and digital technology.
Second-quarter revenue increased to approximately €95.2 million, compared with €88.4 million a year earlier. EBITDA for the first six months was broadly stable at €6.5 million, against €6.6 million in H1 2025, while second-quarter EBITDA rose from €3.1 million to €4.4 million.
The Berlin-based group said it continued to invest in digitalisation and automation, including ticketing technology, data-driven audience analytics and AI-supported event management systems. DEAG said the investments are intended to improve scalability and create further synergies between its events and ticketing operations.
Acquisitions and increased ownership stakes
DEAG continued its buy-and-build strategy during the first half of the year, including the acquisition of a majority stake in Germany`s Juicy Beats festival.
The company also increased its holding in EDM festival Airbeat One from 55% to 75%, acquired the remaining minority interests in promoter Wizard Live and took a majority stake in connected: Events & Live Marketing GmbH.
The moves form part of DEAG`s strategy of expanding its portfolio while reducing minority interests in existing group businesses.
More than six million tickets sold
DEAG staged thousands of concerts, tours and live events during the first six months of 2026, including shows by Die Toten Hosen, Iron Maiden, Yungblud, Foreigner and Böhse Onkelz.
More than 435,000 tickets were sold for the Böhse Onkelz tour, according to the company.
Upcoming events in the second half of 2026 include concerts and tours by Zucchero, Duran Duran, Alison Moyet, Tokio Hotel, Judas Priest and Nena, alongside spoken-word events featuring former US President Barack Obama and actor Michael Douglas.
DEAG said it had already sold significantly more than six million tickets for events taking place in 2026 and 2027 by the end of June, with the majority sold through its own ticketing platforms.
The group operates platforms including myticket in Germany, Austria and the UK, as well as UK ticketing business Gigantic.
Full-year revenue expected above €400m
DEAG expects full-year 2026 revenue to reach well above €400 million, although the figure is expected to be below the previous year because of the timing and composition of its event calendar.
The group said it expects ticket volumes to remain at a similar level to 2025 and continues to target higher profitability and an improved EBITDA margin over the medium term.
"Our performance in the first half of the year was fully in line with our expectations. With a strong event pipeline and high visibility for the coming quarters, we are looking ahead with confidence and believe we are well on the way to achieving our long-term goals," said DEAG Group CEO Detlef Kornett.
Bondholders asked to approve change-of-control waiver
DEAG also confirmed that the Nordic Trustee for its 2025/2029 bond has launched a written resolution process concerning an amendment to the bond terms.
The vote runs from 1 September to 15 September 2026 and relates to DEAG`s previously announced €10 million capital increase.
Apeiron Investment Group is set to subscribe for 2.5 million new DEAG shares at €4 per share. Following completion, Apeiron and affiliated companies would control more than 50% of DEAG`s shares and voting rights, triggering the bond`s change-of-control provisions.
DEAG is asking bondholders to waive the rights arising from the change of control and is offering a one-off payment equivalent to 0.10% of the nominal value of the outstanding bonds in return.
DEAG, founded in Berlin in 1978, operates across Germany, the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain and Italy. The group stages more than 6,000 events annually and sells more than 10 million tickets per year across its live entertainment and ticketing businesses.
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