Eason Chan Ticket Ballot Opens October 28 as Scalpers Ask More Than HK$13,000

About 26,000 tickets, but no guaranteed seats before the draw

Eason Chan's 26 public recording sessions in Hong Kong have attracted resale advertisements asking as much as HK$13,563 before official ticket sales have begun. Organisers are warning fans against paying anyone who claims to have tickets, reserved seats or guaranteed entry ahead of the Cityline ballot.

Registration opens at 11 a.m. on October 28, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on October 29. Cityline's official ballot rules put the public allocation at about 26,000 tickets, priced at HK$980 and HK$1,280 before a mandatory HK$50 service fee per ticket. Registering early gives applicants no extra chance of being selected.

The series, McDonald's Presents: Recording Sessions with Mr. Eason Chan, runs from December 12, 2026, to February 20, 2027, at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts' Lyric Theatre. All 26 sessions are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Chan and his band will revisit earlier albums and record the performances for a new release.

For fans, the immediate task is to enter the official draw with accurate personal details, then wait for a purchase link and verification code if selected. A successful registration is only an entry into the ballot. The opportunity to buy comes later, under rules that differ between the first and second rounds.

Organisers say the draw has not yet taken place and no results have been announced. Their warning follows advertisements seeking more than HK$13,000 for the final session and angry reactions from fans worried about obtaining seats in a theatre holding little more than 1,000 people.

What the resale prices mean for buyers

The highest reported asking price, HK$13,563, is about 10.6 times the top official ticket price of HK$1,280, before fees. A ticket at that official price costs HK$1,330 after Cityline's service charge. The advertised resale figure is an asking price; organisers are urging fans to keep their money away from sellers promising access before the official process.

Cityline says it can guarantee the validity of tickets bought through its platform, while tickets obtained elsewhere may present authenticity problems. Organisers have warned that paying unknown third parties could leave fans with fake tickets or financial losses.

Organisers describe roughly 90% of tickets across the series as reserved for public sale, with approximately 1,000 audience places per night. Cityline gives the public ballot allocation as about 26,000; a higher published estimate of roughly 30,000 relates to a theatre reported to have 1,181 seats. Fans should use the official allocation when considering how many tickets are being offered through the draw.

The organisers acknowledge that demand may exceed supply and have expressed regret that every supporter may not be able to attend. No applicant total has been announced, so a fan's chance of selection cannot yet be calculated.

How to enter the ballot correctly

Cityline requires an applicant's full English name matching their identification document, a valid email address and a mobile number capable of receiving text messages. Selected applicants must use those same details when buying tickets, and the information cannot be changed at that stage.

Each email address and mobile number may be used for only one registration. Duplicate entries count as a single registration, with the most recently submitted information taking precedence. Organisers say the system will verify mobile numbers and identify suspicious, abnormal and repeated registrations.

A confirmation email containing a reference number marks a successful registration. Cityline advises applicants whose confirmation does not arrive immediately to wait and check their spam folder, mailbox capacity and connection rather than repeatedly submitting the form. Incorrect or false information can lead to cancellation of ballot or purchase eligibility.

The registration process removes the advantage of completing the form in the opening seconds: every valid entry submitted within the window has the same chance. Applicants must nevertheless finish the entire process before the October 29 deadline. Cityline lists [email protected] and its online customer service as contact points for registration enquiries.

The dates that matter after registration

Cityline's first round arrangements span November 2 to 5, followed by a second round from November 6 to 9. Successful applicants receive the purchase link by email and the verification code by text message. The notification dates and payment dates are different, so receiving a message is a prompt to check the assigned buying window.

• October 28, 2026, at 11 a.m.: ballot registration opens.
• October 29 at 11:59 p.m.: registration closes.
• November 2 onward: first round notifications begin, with purchases scheduled for November 5 from 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• November 6 onward: second round notifications begin, with purchases scheduled for November 9 from 3 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• November 10: deadline for eligible wheelchair seat applicants to email the organiser.
• December 12, 2026: the recording series begins.
• February 20, 2027: the final scheduled session takes place.

First round winners have enough tickets reserved for them to buy within their assigned period. Cityline does not promise their preferred date, price category, seat position or adjacent seats. Someone hoping to attend with a friend may therefore need flexibility even after being selected.

Second round winners face a different arrangement: remaining tickets are sold in order of purchase until they run out. Selection in that round gives access to the sale, but tickets may be exhausted before every selected applicant completes a transaction. Missing an assigned deadline also means giving up the opportunity to purchase.

What tickets cost and how the limits work

Each verification code can be used once, and each transaction permits a maximum of two tickets. Anyone wanting two must purchase both together, even if they choose different dates or price categories. Using the code to buy one ticket leaves no opportunity to return with that code for another.

The HK$980 ticket costs HK$1,030 including the service fee, while the HK$1,280 ticket costs HK$1,330. Two tickets therefore cost HK$2,060 or HK$2,660 if both are in the same category. Local courier delivery adds HK$50 per transaction for buyers choosing that service.

Tickets are for assigned seats, with one person admitted per ticket. Children under 12 are not admitted. Cityline says completed purchases cannot be refunded or exchanged, and transaction details cannot be changed after submission.

Buyers collecting tickets themselves should prepare the collection QR code in the Cityline app or their collection code and password. The venue has a limited number of Cityline self service machines. Cityline also says lost, stolen, damaged or defaced tickets will not be replaced, making collection and safekeeping part of the preparations for attending.

Wheelchair seats have a separate application step

Wheelchair seats cost HK$1,280 before the ticket service fee. Applicants must first be selected in either ballot round and must not already have bought tickets online. They then need to email [email protected] by November 10, 2026, to request wheelchair seating.

The email should identify the request as a wheelchair seat purchase for Recording Sessions with Mr. Eason Chan and include the applicant's name, telephone number, email address and purchase verification code. The organiser will arrange seats according to availability at individual sessions, so the preferred performance may not be possible.

This creates an extra deadline between the ticket rounds and the opening performance. Fans requiring wheelchair seating need to retain their verification code and follow the email procedure rather than completing an ordinary online purchase first.

Twenty six sessions across three months

Chan announced the project on October 16, replacing the familiar large concert setting with a theatre where recording is the central activity. The initial recording session announcement set out the plan to return to albums from different stages of his career and turn the performances into a new record.

The schedule contains 10 performances in December, 10 in January and six in February. The dates are spread across the three months rather than forming a continuous nightly run.

• December 2026: 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26 and 27.
• January 2027: 6, 7, 9, 10, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30 and 31.
• February 2027: 12, 13, 16, 17, 19 and 20.

Cityline says each session has a designated album theme and that nightly programmes vary. Some sessions will combine material from more than one album. The repertoire includes U87, H3M, Shall We Dance? Shall We Talk!, My Happy Times and Eason Chan's Happy Days, among other releases.

For buyers, the album theme is another choice alongside date and price. A ticket to one evening may bring a different programme from another, while first round selection does not guarantee access to a particular session.

Why Chan is recording these songs again

Chan's first album was released in 1996, making the project part of his 30th anniversary in recording. In an interview with radio host Carol Cheng, he explained that he wanted to revisit earlier work while he remained active and in good vocal condition, having experienced periods of hoarseness.

The Academy also has a personal connection for him. Chan recalled taking part there in the 14th New Talent Singing Awards in 1995, linking the recording venue to the beginning of his career.

Music producer Jerald is preparing new arrangements for about 280 songs and seeking to bring back musicians involved in the original recordings, including pianist Sun Weiming. An arrangement determines how instruments, rhythms and vocal parts fit together, allowing familiar songs to take a different musical shape.

Chan has identified the high vocal range of My Happy Times as a particular challenge. He said he had discussed lowering the key with Jerald so the songs would sound good rather than preserving their original pitch at all costs. Lowering a key moves the music into a lower range while keeping the melody's pattern.

Chan will also share memories of making the albums and stories behind the songs. The finished recordings are intended for a new release, although no release date has been announced.

Inside the theatre, the audience must stay quiet

Each session is expected to last about 100 minutes, with two parts and a 15 minute interval. Because the performances are being recorded, audience noise becomes part of the practical challenge. Talking, cheering, singing along or clapping during a take could be picked up alongside the musicians.

Audience members must switch off their phones and place them in sealing devices supplied by the organiser, which they will keep with them. Anyone needing a phone during the interval must leave the auditorium for a designated area where staff can unlock the device.

Cityline prohibits the use of phones, smart watches, smart accessories, cameras and recording equipment inside the performance space. Electronic devices must remain put away. Unauthorised photography, audio recording and video recording are banned, and professional camera and recording equipment cannot be brought into the auditorium.

Applause and cheers are reserved for moments indicated by Chan or the organisers. Food and drink are prohibited in the auditorium. Fans should plan to be seated before the 8 p.m. start; late arrivals must wait for a suitable break before being admitted, so recording can continue without interruption.

Key Points

• Cityline registration runs from 11 a.m. on October 28 to 11:59 p.m. on October 29, 2026. Early registration gives no advantage.
• About 26,000 tickets are allocated to the public ballot. Tickets cost HK$980 or HK$1,280, plus HK$50 each in service fees.
• First round purchases are scheduled for November 5 and second round purchases for November 9, following notifications beginning November 2 and 6 respectively.
• Each verification code works once and permits up to two tickets in a single transaction.
• Organisers warn against paying sellers claiming to hold tickets or guarantee entry before the official draw.
• The 26 sessions run from December 12, 2026, to February 20, 2027. Phones must be switched off and sealed, with silence required during recording.