Bending Spoons completed its purchase of Eventbrite on March 10, 2026, and Eventbrite is no longer a public company. For organizers, the ticketing fees have not changed: the US rate is still 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket plus 2.9% processing. What has changed are the paid plans, the company's leadership and staff, and the product roadmap.
This page sticks to what is documented in regulatory filings, Eventbrite's own help center and reporting by Reuters. Where something is only rumoured, we say so. We will update it as Eventbrite announces changes.
Timeline
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| December 2, 2025 | Eventbrite announced an agreement to be acquired by Bending Spoons in an all-cash deal valued at about $500 million, $4.50 per share | Announcement filed with the SEC |
| February 27, 2026 | Eventbrite stockholders approved the merger | SEC filing |
| March 10, 2026 | The deal closed; Eventbrite became a wholly owned subsidiary and its shares stopped trading on the NYSE | SEC filing |
| April 2026 | Reuters reported staff cuts and the first product changes under the new owner | Reuters via WHBL |
The $4.50 price was an 82% premium to Eventbrite's 60-day volume-weighted average share price, according to the announcement. The closing filing says co-founder and CEO Julia Hartz and the chief financial officer would step down after Eventbrite filed its annual report for 2025.
What has changed for organizers
Fees: no change announced
Eventbrite's published US rate is the same as before the deal: 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket plus 2.9% processing on each order. On a $50 ticket that is $5.09. Free events still cost nothing to publish. Our Eventbrite fees guide has the full breakdown, including the rates in the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.
Plans: Pro closed, Premium arrives
Eventbrite's help center now says Pro plans "are no longer available to new subscribers"; existing subscribers keep their plan and price. The new plan is Eventbrite Premium, at $69 a month or $708 a year in the US. It includes placement in Eventbrite's own ads on Meta, Google and TikTok, $20 a month in Eventbrite Ads credits, up to 2,000 marketing emails a day, newsletter placements, live chat and priority email support, and 50% off Instant Payout fees. Eventbrite says eligibility "is being expanded gradually, starting with organizers in the United States" (pricing and plans).
When we checked on October 24, 2026, Eventbrite's public pricing pages still advertised Pro from $15 a month. Expect them to change.
Staff and leadership
Reuters reported in April that Bending Spoons had cut a large portion of Eventbrite's pre-acquisition workforce, and that Andrea Parodi had taken over leadership of Eventbrite. Several competitors have written that support for organizers on free plans has become harder to reach. We have not been able to confirm that from Eventbrite's own pages. What is documented is that Premium includes live chat and priority email support.
Product
At the announcement, Bending Spoons said it planned to build a dedicated messaging feature, introduce AI for easier event creation, improve searchability and create "a system for the secondary ticket market." Reuters reported in April that faster event creation and redesigned organizer profile pages had shipped, with offline ticket access and multi-slot scanning planned.
What organizers should do now
- Re-check your costs each season. The fee has not moved yet, but treat today's rate as a baseline rather than a promise. The fee calculator shows what you keep at your prices.
- Look at what you actually use. If most of your buyers come from your own list or community, the marketplace and Premium's advertising may add little. Compare a lower-fee platform on the same numbers.
- Export your data regularly. Keep attendee lists, order reports and payout records outside any single platform.
- Plan cash flow around payouts. First-time organizers are paid after the event; check whether a payout schedule or another platform suits your deposits better.
- Keep Eventbrite where it earns its fee. For public events that sell to new audiences through Eventbrite's marketplace, staying may still be the right call.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Eventbrite now?
Bending Spoons, which completed its acquisition on March 10, 2026. Eventbrite is a wholly owned subsidiary and no longer trades on the New York Stock Exchange.
How much did Bending Spoons pay for Eventbrite?
About $500 million in cash, or $4.50 per share, according to the December 2025 announcement.
Did Eventbrite raise its fees after the acquisition?
No fee change has been announced. The US rate remains 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket plus 2.9% processing.
What happened to Eventbrite Pro?
Pro is closed to new subscribers. Existing subscribers keep their plan; new organizers are offered Eventbrite Premium at $69 a month in the US as it rolls out.
Is Eventbrite still free for free events?
Yes. Eventbrite says organizers can publish unlimited events of any size at no cost, and free tickets carry no ticketing fee.
If you are weighing a move, our guide to Eventbrite alternatives compares 12 platforms on fees and fit.