How Credit Cards Can Elevate Your Entertainment Experiences (and Save You Money)

When it comes to credit card perks, cash back and travel rewards get a lot of attention. But you may be carrying a card that grants you access to concerts, shows, dining experiences and more. When you do pick an event to attend, you can buy tickets early, gain VIP access, get better seats or score discounts on concessions.

If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or if you just want to get out of the house, take a look at how your credit cards may pave the way for more memorable experiences.

Take advantage of ticket presales or score specific seats reserved for AmEx card members. You can also get free merchandise, discounted concessions and more at select music festivals and sporting events, or take part in exclusive dining events. At a select number of eligible venues in several cities, enjoy a card member-only entrance, discounts on concessions, access to premium areas within venues and more. Benefits vary by venue; terms apply.

Holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express Centurion Card can attend specific, high-end “curated experiences.” Getting access doesn’t come cheap, depending on the event. For example, you can attend the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 in November for $16,500 per person, and that doesn’t include flights or a hotel booking.

With Capital One consumer and small-business rewards cards, you can attend exclusive cardholder-only dinners prepared by renowned chefs and access ticket presales for sporting events, concerts and music festivals, food festivals, theater and more. Some events also offer exclusive experiences, at times for an additional cost, like getting to attend a soundcheck performance before a concert. You can redeem rewards to cover some or all of the cost (and use your card to pay the difference).

Chase customers can access ticket presales, score preferred seats, get merchandise discounts at venues, enjoy visits to Chase lounges, get hard-to-snag restaurant reservations and more. Carrying a Chase Sapphire Reserve® can unlock even more luxury with VIP access and entrance to Sapphire lounges at specific events.

Eligible Citi cardholders may get access to tickets during presales for concerts, sporting events, stand-up comedy shows and more.

Eligible Hilton cardholders can redeem points for high-end experiences, either by paying outright or participating in auctions. If you pony up enough points, you could take part in a preconcert guided meditation led by Alanis Morissette, toss a football with Travis Kelce, or enjoy a five-course dinner on the beach in the Maldives (as of this writing).

Redeem World of Hyatt Points (or pay cash) to participate in dining, fitness and wellness experiences around the world — food tours, cooking classes, cocktail tastings, mermaid-themed water exercise classes and more.

Eligible Marriott cardholders can use points to buy or bid on dining experiences, club box seats at sporting events and VIP seats at concerts.

Holders of the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey can get up to six tickets to a series of small-venue concerts featuring artists who usually perform in much larger spaces. So far, two concerts have taken place since the program launched in late 2023. In some cases, holders of other Wells Fargo-issued cards may be eligible to buy tickets as well.

In March 2023, Wyndham became the official partner of Minor League Baseball. As a Wyndham Rewards member, you can redeem points for tickets to games, ballpark tours and even a chance to throw the first pitch at a game.