You can usually join the Ticketmaster queue about 10–30 minutes before tickets go on sale, depending on the event and the type of sale (general vs. presale).

Core timing answer

  • Ticketmaster’s own help pages say you should join the waiting room about 15 minutes before the sale start time ; once the sale opens, you’re given a place in line.
  • For many “Verified Fan” or similar high‑demand sales, fans report that the waiting room/queue opens roughly 15–30 minutes before the on‑sale time , and you should be in by then.
  • Joining extra early (e.g., hours before) does not usually move you ahead of others; placement is typically assigned when the sale starts, not when you first opened the page.

How it works step by step

  1. Find the event page and make sure you are logged in to your Ticketmaster account before the on‑sale time.
  1. Enter the waiting room when it opens (commonly 15–30 minutes before on sale, shown on the event page or in your email).
  1. When the official sale time hits, the system assigns your place in the queue and shows something like “X,000+ people ahead of you.” This is often randomized among everyone who was already in the waiting room.
  1. When it is your turn, you are automatically moved from the queue to the ticket‑buying page and usually have around 10 minutes to pick and pay for tickets.

Practical tips and “latest” forum wisdom

  • Be on the event page 15–30 minutes early and stay there; do not refresh during the queue, as your spot updates automatically.
  • Have payment and account details saved so you do not waste your 10‑minute purchase window.
  • Fans on recent Reddit threads emphasize that:
    • Being in the waiting room before on‑sale is crucial.
* Coming in late (after on‑sale) can put you much further back, especially for high‑demand events.

Mini FAQ

  • “If I open the page an hour early, will I be ahead in line?”
    Generally no; as long as you are in the waiting room before the on‑sale time, your position is usually randomized among everyone waiting.
  • “Do I have to stay on the page?”
    Yes. Official guidance says to keep the tab open and let it refresh itself; closing or manually refreshing can cause issues with your place.
  • “Does every event use the same timing?”
    Not always. Some events or regions may tweak the waiting‑room open time, so always check the event page and any presale/Verified Fan emails you received for the exact instructions.

TL;DR: For “when can you join the queue on Ticketmaster,” plan to be logged in and on the event page 15–30 minutes before tickets go on sale , enter the waiting room as soon as it opens, and stay put until your turn comes up.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.