June 26, 2026
Buying tickets for concerts, movies, and live performances in Illinois is about to become more transparent and consumer-friendly.
On June 25th, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed three landmark pieces of legislation designed to better protect ticket buyers by increasing price transparency, addressing deceptive ticket resale practices, and helping combat the automated ticket-buying bots that often prevent fans from purchasing tickets at face value.
For the Egyptian Theatre, this wasn’t just an opportunity to witness history—it was the culmination of years of advocacy.
Executive Director Alex Nerad joined Governor Pritzker, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, state legislators, and representatives from independent entertainment venues across Illinois for the bill signing in Chicago. The event celebrated legislation that represents one of the most significant updates to Illinois ticketing laws in recent years.
For approximately three years, Alex has worked alongside fellow members of the Illinois chapter of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), meeting regularly with venue operators throughout the state to advocate for reforms that better protect consumers while supporting independent venues and performing artists.
“It was an honor to attend the bill signing and to see years of collaborative advocacy result in meaningful legislation,” said Nerad. “These new laws help create a more transparent and equitable ticket-buying experience for our patrons while supporting independent venues and the artists who perform on our stage.”
What This Means for You
While the legislation contains several provisions, its overall goal is simple: make purchasing tickets more fair and transparent for consumers.
The new laws are intended to:
- Increase transparency surrounding ticket prices and fees.
- Help reduce deceptive ticket resale practices.
- Address automated ticket-buying bots that purchase large numbers of tickets before fans have an opportunity to buy them.
- Strengthen consumer confidence when purchasing tickets for concerts, theatrical performances, and other live events.
These are issues that affect audiences of every size—from major arena concerts to performances at historic independent theatres like the Egyptian.
Buy Direct Whenever Possible
Although these new laws are an important step forward, consumers still play the biggest role in protecting themselves.
One of the best ways to ensure you’re purchasing legitimate tickets at the correct price is to buy directly from the venue whenever possible.
Unfortunately, third-party resale websites often appear near the top of online search results and can list tickets at dramatically inflated prices. Earlier this year, for example, Rocky Horror Picture Show tickets at the Egyptian Theatre appeared on one resale site for more than $300, despite being available through the Egyptian Theatre Box Office for a fraction of that price.
Whenever you’re planning to attend an event at the Egyptian Theatre, we encourage you to purchase directly through egyptiantheatre.org, by calling our Box Office at 815-758-1225, or by visiting us in person during Box Office hours.
Looking Ahead
As one of Illinois’ historic nonprofit independent theatres, the Egyptian Theatre is proud to advocate for policies that benefit not only our organization, but also the patrons who support live entertainment throughout the state.
“There is still more work to be done to protect ticket buyers in Illinois,” said Nerad. “But these new laws are a great step forward. We remain committed to educating our patrons and encouraging them to always purchase directly from the venue.”
The Egyptian Theatre extends its appreciation to Governor JB Pritzker, members of the Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois chapter of NIVA, and the many venue operators, artists, and advocates whose dedication helped bring these important consumer protections to Illinois audiences.
