How to See Nearby Concerts on Spotify

If you’ve ever been stuck at home wondering what’s happening in your city tonight, Spotify can help. It doesn’t just play your favorite songs-it shows you live concerts happening right around you. No more scrolling through event apps or checking Facebook groups. Spotify’s concert feature pulls real-time data from ticket sellers and venues to show you what’s playing nearby, when, and how to get in. And yes, it works whether you’re in Wellington, Tokyo, or Toronto.

Where to find concerts on Spotify

Open the Spotify app on your phone. Don’t look in the main feed or your library. The concert section is tucked away under the Search tab. Tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen. Now scroll down past the playlists, podcasts, and trending tracks. You’ll see a section labeled Live Events. That’s it.

This section updates daily. If there’s a show within 50 kilometers of your current location, it’ll show up here. Spotify uses your phone’s GPS to pin your location, so make sure location services are turned on. If you don’t see anything, try zooming out-sometimes events appear only after you’ve been in a new city for a few hours.

What kind of concerts show up

Not every gig makes it onto Spotify. Only shows with official ticketing partners appear. That means you’ll see events from Ticketmaster, Live Nation, AXS, and other major vendors. Small local gigs at dive bars or house shows usually won’t show up unless they’re listed on one of those platforms.

You’ll find everything from indie bands playing small clubs to big-name artists doing surprise pop-up shows. In Wellington last month, a surprise set by Lorde popped up on Spotify just six hours before doors opened. Thousands got the alert. That’s how fast it updates.

How to know if a show is still available

Each event card shows the date, time, venue, and ticket status. If tickets are sold out, it’ll say Sold Out. If they’re still available, you’ll see a button that says Get Tickets. Tap that and you’re taken straight to the official ticketing site. No middlemen. No third-party resellers. You’re buying directly from the venue or promoter.

Some shows have limited early access for Spotify Premium users. If you’re on Premium, you might see a badge that says Early Access. That means you can buy tickets before the general public. It’s not guaranteed, but it happens often for major artists.

Why Spotify doesn’t show every local show

Spotify doesn’t have a direct feed from every small venue. It relies on data partnerships with ticketing companies. If a local band is playing at a café that uses a simple cash box and no online ticketing, it won’t show up. Same goes for free outdoor festivals that don’t require tickets.

But here’s the thing: most artists who matter on Spotify-those with over 10,000 monthly listeners-are already working with major ticketing platforms. So if you’re following bands you actually like, you’re likely to see their shows.

How to get alerts for future shows

Spotify doesn’t send push notifications for every concert. But you can set up alerts for your favorite artists. Go to their profile page, tap the three dots next to their name, and select Follow. Then, go back to the Search tab and scroll to Live Events. Tap the bell icon at the top right. Turn on Artist Alerts.

Now, whenever one of your followed artists announces a show near you, you’ll get a notification. It’s not instant-sometimes it takes 24 hours-but it’s the closest thing to a personal concert scout.

What if you’re traveling?

Spotify updates your location automatically when you move. But if you’re planning a trip and want to see what’s happening in another city, you can change your location manually. In the Live Events section, tap the location icon (it looks like a pin). You’ll see a search bar. Type in a city name-say, Auckland or Sydney-and the event list will update to show shows in that area.

This works even if you’re not there yet. Great for planning trips around music. I once booked a weekend in Dunedin just because I saw two bands I loved playing there on Spotify. Turned out the venue had a great coffee shop next door. Best trip ever.

Can you stream concerts on Spotify?

Spotify doesn’t stream live concerts the way YouTube or Apple Music does. You can’t watch a band play from your couch through the app. What you get is the event listing and a link to buy tickets. If you want to watch a show remotely, you’ll need to check the artist’s YouTube channel or the venue’s website.

But here’s the twist: some artists use Spotify to announce exclusive livestreams. You won’t see the stream in the app, but you’ll get a notification saying [Artist] is streaming live tonight. Tap it, and it takes you to a link where you can watch. It’s not a built-in feature-it’s a promotion.

Why this matters more than you think

Spotify knows what you listen to better than anyone. If you’ve been playing The Beths every day for two weeks, and they’re playing a show in Christchurch next Friday, Spotify will show you that show. It’s not random. It’s algorithmic. It’s personal. It turns passive listening into active participation.

For indie artists, this is huge. A band with 20,000 monthly listeners might sell out a 150-person venue in a town they’ve never played before-all because Spotify showed their show to the right people. For fans, it means you never miss a moment.

What to do if nothing shows up

If you’re in a small town and see zero events, here’s what to try:

1. Check your location settings. Make sure Spotify has permission to access your location.
2. Update the app. Older versions sometimes glitch out the Live Events section.
3. Search for a specific artist. Go to their profile and scroll down. If they have upcoming shows, they’ll appear under Upcoming Shows even if they don’t show up in the main feed.
4. Wait a few days. Events get added as they’re announced. If there’s a festival coming up in two weeks, it might not be listed yet.
5. Try a different city. Sometimes the algorithm is slow to update in rural areas. Switch to the nearest major city and see what’s happening there.

If none of that works, the truth is simple: there might not be any shows near you right now. That’s okay. Spotify will show you the next one when it happens.

Real examples from this month

In Wellington last week, here’s what showed up:

• Broods at The Capitol Theatre - 300 tickets left, $65
• Alien Weaponry at The Court Theatre - 120 tickets left, $45
• Waxahatchee at San Fran Bar - 50 tickets left, $35
• Kimbra announced a surprise acoustic set at a record store - tickets sold out in 17 minutes

All of these appeared on Spotify before they hit Facebook or Eventbrite. That’s how fast it moves.

Final tip: Use it like a music compass

Spotify’s concert feature isn’t just a tool. It’s a way to rediscover music in real space. It turns your playlist into a map. Your favorite songs become doorways to places you haven’t been yet. You don’t just hear the music-you’re part of the moment it’s happening.

So next time you’re scrolling through your Discover Weekly, pause. Tap Search. Look at Live Events. There’s probably a show you didn’t know about waiting for you.