From Swift to sports: The best last-minute gift ideas for live event fans

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For the live event enthusiast in your life or person who has it all, tickets are hands down one of the best gifts you can give this holiday season. In fact, by our estimation, they’re more than just a present; tickets are passes to unforgettable experiences.
And, if you waited until the eleventh hour (let’s be honest, we did too), seats and general admission passes make great last-minute gifts for the Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce fans in your life.
That’s where we come in.
Our team compiled a list of games, shows and theatrical productions for the dedicated live events fans on your list.
We hope these recommendations will make them laugh out loud, hold their breath through game-winning plays, or lose their voice singing along with their favorite artist. Whether you are looking for a gift for mom, dad, the whole family or anyone else, our experiential gift guide will give you a gift idea (or five).
Without further ado, here are gift ideas for you and you and you.
For Her
This is the year of grrrl rock ‘n roll. Just a few of our favorite artists that might strike the fancy of the lady in your life include Taylor Swift (obvi), Olivia Rodrigo (double obvi), Adele, Alanis Morissette or Sarah McLachlan. And if you find yourself in NYC, you can’t go wrong with the tearjerker “Merrily We Roll Along” or fantastical “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” on Broadway.
The Best Gifts for Moms
Finding the perfect gift for your mom might feel like an impossible holiday mission. Why not give her an experience she’ll remember for years to come? If your mom is a Broadway fan, chances are she will love “Wicked.” This modern take on a classic fable is on tour now, so there’s a good chance you can see the show together at a theater near you. Make a day of it, and grab brunch or dinner before the show!
The Best Gifts for Wives
You could send your wife (and coordinate with her friends) to a laugh out loud funny comedy show for her next night out. Whatever her taste in comedy, there are dozens of touring comedians that she and her friends can see live. From rising stars like Nikki Glaser and Taylor Tomlinson to co-headlining comedy legends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, there are plenty of options to choose from in the very near future.
The Best Gifts for Girlfriends
For the girlfriend who is always listening to Spotify and can’t wait for her Wrapped, we humbly suggest considering concert tickets. Whether she’s a major Noah Kahan fan, loves Zach Bryan or needs to attend Coachella this spring, you can’t go wrong sending her to a show. Unsure of exactly who she wants to see? Send her a gift card, so she’s ready to go when the mood strikes or her favorite artist announces a 2024 tour. If you’re feeling extra thoughtful, pair the surprise with this Concert Passport, so she can keep track of every show she’s seen.
The Best Gifts for Friends
If your pal just moved to a new locale, there is no better way to meet new friends and explore than through live events. For our money, you can’t go wrong using Vivid Seats’ expansive events library to explore upcoming events near their new digs. Using our Region Directory, you can explore trending events that are happening nearby.
For Him
Some of our favorite artists that both bros, papas and grandpapas can agree on will be pounding the pavement all 2024 long. Personally, we’re most excited about the Rolling Stones, Busta Rhymes, The Eagles, Foo Fighters and Earth Wind and Fire with Chicago but that’s just us. To get a bit more specific, here are a few ideas for all the fellas in your life.
The Best Gifts for Dads
If your pops is always jamming out to the latest in country music, we’d recommend to George Strait or Chris Stapleton seats. For the resident family comedian treat him to a ticket to a major upcoming comedy tour. Jerry Seinfeld and Hasan Minhaj should do the trick. Dad’s golf-obsessed? Consider getting him PGA tickets so he can see Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy in person.
The Best Gifts for Husbands
No matter what his favorite team or bands are, there always seems to be a big game or concert coming up, right? As we always say, tickets to any game always makes for a great gift, so we suggest snagging tickets to see their favorite MLB team next season. If you are looking to gift him something particularly nostalgic, try transporting him back to 1994 with tickets to see Green Day with The Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid or Blink-182 featuring Pierce The Veil. The legendary bands conveniently announced tours right before the holidays. Major score.
The Best Gifts for Boyfriends
Whether it is a situationship or super serious, shopping for your special someone requires some thought. If he always has a NBA game on TV, consider getting him a set of NBA tickets to see his favorite team live this season. Looking to make the holiday extra merry? Celebrate the holiday and NBA season with Christmas Day tickets:
The Best Gifts for Brothers
Any brother would appreciate a set of concert tickets—especially when it features his favorite artists. Drake and J. Cole’s co-headling tour across the country launches in January and it’s guaranteed to be a great show for big or lil bros across the country. Grab tickets to see the talented two live and maybe your brother will let you tag along, too.
For Families
Let’s face it: Sometimes parents of young children don’t want (or need!) another toy around the house. Therefore, tickets to a kid-friendly show should do the trick creating core memories in the process. From entertainment like Paw Patrol Live and Disney on Ice to the sporty Monster Jam and Savannah Bananas, there are plenty of family-friendly events happening at any given time around the country that you can all enjoy together.
For Teens
If there’s a giftee that’s a Swiftie on your nice list this year, consider surprising them with tickets to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour live! We’d recommend pairing the tickets with some essential Eras Tour merch and all the beads and string you can find.
For Comedy Lovers
For the comedian in your life, give them the gift of laughter this holiday season with tickets to a riotous comedy show. From Steve Martin and Martin Short to Jim Gaffigan to Wanda Sykes, some of the funniest comics in the business are cracking up audiences all over North America right now. Plus, the comic in your life might appreciate taking a night off being the funniest person in the room, too.
For Theater Buffs
Gifting theater tickets deserves a standing ovation! Everything from “Six the Musical“ to “Hadestown” will be on tour in 2024 and the new year. Looking for something for the whole family? We’ve got you covered with theater tickets for enduring family favorites like “The Lion King,” “Frozen” and “Aladdin.”
The Sports Fanatic
With the NFL season underway and playoffs quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to win over the sports fanatic in your life with NFL tickets to see their favorite team live. And with Vivid Seats, you can build an ultimate game day experience by bundling your game tickets with a pregame or postgame field pass. Consider this gift a win all around.
The One That Has Everything
Sometimes finding the perfect holiday gift can be difficult, especially when it’s the family member or friend that has it all — or refuses to tell you what they want. When you buy a Vivid Seats gift card, even the hardest to please giftee can pick out an event they’d like to attend and get a head start on creating next year’s best memories.
Buy Tickets for the Holidays and Get Rewarded
When you buy tickets for your favorite fan, you get rewards to keep all to yourself. Plus, with every seat you purchase, you’ll also earn Rewards Credit with Vivid Seats Rewards. Best of all, when you buy ten tickets, the 11th is on the house.
*Excluding taxes, fees and processing costs.
Still not sure what to buy? We suggest checking out our list of the 50 biggest concert tours in 2024 here to find the show that’s just right for you (or someone on your gift list).