Ari Emanuel's Live Events Company MARI Acquires Bucket Listers

The deal aims to combine MARI's portfolio of live events with Bucket Listers' discovery platform.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:07am

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Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro's live events company MARI has acquired a majority stake in Bucket Listers, a live events discovery platform. The deal is part of MARI's strategy to build a portfolio of live experiences and leverage technology to better engage audiences. Bucket Listers, founded in 2018, will now be part of MARI's growing collection of assets that include tennis tournaments, arts organizations, and lifestyle brands.

Why it matters

The acquisition of Bucket Listers aligns with MARI's goal of modernizing the live experiences industry, which remains a trillion-dollar category without a dominant aggregator platform. By combining MARI's portfolio of events with Bucket Listers' discovery capabilities, the company aims to make it easier for audiences to find and book live experiences.

The details

MARI, the live events firm founded by Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro, has acquired a majority stake in Bucket Listers, a live events discovery platform. The deal comes after MARI previously bought Broadway ticketing company TodayTix in October. Bucket Listers, founded in 2018, has produced live experiences with major brands like Mattel, Disney, and CBS/Paramount. The acquisition is part of MARI's strategy to build a portfolio of live events and leverage technology to better engage audiences.

  • MARI was formally launched in early October 2026.
  • MARI acquired a majority stake in Bucket Listers on February 4, 2026.

The players

Ari Emanuel

Co-founder of MARI and former CEO of Endeavor, a representation powerhouse that he took private in a $25 billion deal.

Mark Shapiro

Co-founder of MARI and former co-president of Endeavor.

Bucket Listers

A live events discovery platform founded in 2018 that helps users find and book the best things to do in their city.

Andy Lederman

Founder and CEO of Bucket Listers.

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What they’re saying

“Bucket Listers gives us deeper insight into how audiences discover and decide what to do. As technology continues to reshape how time and attention are spent, Bucket Listers helps us engage audiences, understand demand more clearly, and build stronger relationships across the MARI portfolio.”

— Ari Emanuel, Co-founder, MARI

“Live experiences remain one of the few trillion-dollar categories without a destination that aggregates supply and makes discovery frictionless. We are honored to join forces with Ari, Mark and team, along with TodayTix, on a collective mission to modernize and reshape the future of live experiences.”

— Andy Lederman, Founder and CEO, Bucket Listers

The takeaway

The acquisition of Bucket Listers by MARI demonstrates the growing importance of technology and data-driven insights in the live events industry. By combining MARI's portfolio of experiences with Bucket Listers' discovery platform, the company aims to make it easier for audiences to find and engage with live events, ultimately reshaping the future of the trillion-dollar live experiences market.