Harry Styles sells out first world tour in seconds

Tickets for Harry Styles’ first world tour sold out in seconds across 29 markets. Kicking off in mid-September, they include North America, Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore

The 23-year old plays Australian shows, at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on Sunday November 26, and the Forum Theatre in Melbourne on Thursday November 30.

The One Direction member took to Twitter: “I am overwhelmed, thank you. If I don’t get to see you this tour, I’ll come back around next year if you’ll have me. Love, H”.

Speculation over the weekend was that 1D’s Niall Horan could be a guest on the tour, at least for the four UK dates.

Styles broke a record for the number of Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan signups. The program allowed fans to register in advance for one ticket each on the 13 shows in North America. Unlike in Australia, where there was a two-ticket limit, fans in the U.S. and Canada could buy four each.

The new scheme, set to foil anti-scalpers, has been used by both Ed Sheeran (who’s likely to announce tour dates in Australia and New Zealand today) and Twenty One Pilots in recent months.

Obviously Styles’ tickets moved faster because he was playing small intimate shows. He could have played larger dates, as he did in his days with One Direction, but he said he wanted to be closer to diehard fans.

For the two Australian shows, local promoter Frontier Touring adopted strict rules to thwart scalpers.

Both only allowed two tickets per person. At the time of purchase, the buyer got an account booking confirmation number, with the credit card holder’s name printed on all tickets.

The Sydney show has physical tickets issued only on October 16. Melbourne’s won’t have any physical ticket released. On the day of the shows, the buyer has to check-in at the venue to have the credit card ID crosschecked against purchase list and be given non-transferrable accreditation for entry.

Styles is touring in support of his debut self-titled album set for release through Columbia / Sony Music on May 12.

The first single Sign Of The Times topped the charts in 84 countries, including the UK and peaked at #4 in the US.

Horan, who has also released solo material since One Direction’s hiatus, is adamant the band will reunite down the track.

He said, “It’s been a year and a bit already. We don’t want to put a time on it. But when that phone call does come, no matter whoever it comes from, we’re back again.

“At the minute it’s exactly where it was six months ago – we’re doing our own thing.”