“It feels like a kick in the teeth.”
Harry Styles supporters across Greater Manchester say they were left frustrated and heartbroken after missing out on £20 ballot tickets for his 2026 Co-op Live show.
The limited tickets were released through a request-based ballot system on Ticketmaster, with thousands attempting to secure a spot to see the former One Direction star.
Superfan Charlie Siddle, 21, from Wigan, has followed Styles since his early days on The X Factor, and has attended four concerts across the world, following both his One Direction and solo career.
“When he became part of One Direction on X Factor I was obsessed straight away,” she said. “Harry was always my favourite. I’ve grown up loving him.”
Credit: Charlie Siddle
Despite previously paying more than £300 for tickets, Charlie said the £20 Manchester announcement felt “really special” for all of the Manchester-based fans.
“I found out when I was in work and just started going crazy – saying ‘OMG £20 is so cheap, I’ve got to get tickets.’ When you’ve paid so much to see him before, and now it’s in Manchester too, it just feels different. I just had to go.
“I text everyone I knew begging them to get in this ballot for me,” she said. “We queued for about three hours just to request tickets. My mum got kicked out before she could even request, and my brother was waiting way over 24 hours.”
Charlie says communication around results lacked clarity.
“On the Ts and Cs it said on the 10th of February you would find out.
“I was just sat refreshing my email all day. I only found out I was unsuccessful by going onto Ticketmaster to manage my request.”
Credit: Jessica Howard
While some fans have argued that long-term supporters should have been prioritised, Charlie said she doesn’t necessarily believe “bigger fans” deserve automatic access.
“Not necessarily. But I do think Co-op members or even UK fans should have had some priority – I’ve seen people from America bragging about getting them.”
For her, the ballot created what she describes as “false hope”.
“Maybe next time we should just stick to the classic Ticketmaster battles where you queue up and know straight away,” she said. “The whole thing just felt unfair.”
Frustration has also been voiced widely on social media.
One Facebook user commented: “I appreciate you doing a £20 gig but he’s doing London which is gonna cost at least £300 for a decent seat. I’m a fan of Harry Styles but I’m not a fan of these prices.”
Another wrote: “The odds were against us anyway. But it would be nice to know for sure we were in with a chance.”
On Styles’ Instagram, fans described the ballot as “the worst ticket experience I have ever had”, with others questioning whether Manchester postcode holders should have been prioritised.
One comment wrote, “It felt like he was trying to show appreciation to his Manchester fans, after all, he wouldn’t really have the fanbase he has without us, but yet again its been bombarded. Maybe next time I guess”.
This recent controversy regarding Styles reflects a much wider conversation about the neglect of arts in Manchester. Efforts to improve include BRIT Awards being held in Manchester for the first time, with Styles due to perform.
For Charlie, amongst many others, missing out felt particularly personal.
“Going to this concert in Manchester would’ve meant the world honestly,” she said. “It could have been a perfect full circle moment.”
Ticketmaster has been approached for comment regarding the ballot, but are yet to respond.