13 Best Performing Arts Venues in Atlanta, Georgia

Background Illustration for Performing Arts

For the most complete schedule of cultural events, check the weekly Access Atlanta section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (www.ajc.com), the city's lively and free alternative weekly, Creative Loafing (clatl.com), or the entertainment monthly, INsite (www.insiteatlanta.com). The Atlanta Daily World (www.atlantadailyworld.com) and the Atlanta Voice (www.theatlantavoice.com), serving the African American community, are also published weekly.

Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

The 12,000-capacity Ameris Bank Amphitheatre is situated on 45 acres 22 miles north of Downtown Atlanta. The venue hosts a variety of pop, country, and classical acts, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Midtown

Under the musical direction of Robert Spano since 2001, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has 27 Grammy awards to its credit. It performs the fall–spring subscription series in the nearly 1,800-seat Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Buckhead Theatre

Buckhead

This restored 1931 Spanish baroque theater has sloped floors that make it ideal for the comedy, rock, soul, and country shows hosted here.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park

Buckhead

This theater feels more like an outdoor nightclub than a typical performance venue. Pack a picnic, bring a blanket if you've snagged some seats on the lawn, and prepare to listen to your favorite performers over the clink of dishes and the chatter of dinner conversation.

Emory University

Emory

On its idyllic campus surrounded by picturesque houses, Emory University has five major venues where internationally renowned artists perform.

Florence Kopleff Recital Hall

Downtown

Georgia State University hosts concerts that are free and open to the public. The hall's entrance is on Gilmer Street, and there's parking in the lot at the corner of Edgewood and Peachtree Center Avenues.

Fox Theatre

Midtown

This dramatic faux-Moorish theater is the principal venue for touring Broadway shows, national productions, concerts, and the Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival.

Infinite Energy Center

A 708-seat theater, a 13,000-seat arena, and a 50,000-square-foot expo center are all here, 30 miles north of Downtown Atlanta. The venue hosts national touring acts and the Atlanta Gladiators hockey team, as well as conventions, sporting events, outlet sales, and jewelry shows.

Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre

This 2,500-capacity venue 6 miles west of Downtown Atlanta stages jazz, R&B, and country music.

Philips Arena

Downtown

With a seating capacity of nearly 20,000, Philips Arena is the major venue Downtown. In addition to hosting the biggest musical acts, it's also the home of NBA Atlanta Hawks and WNBA Atlanta Dream. The Philips Arena MARTA station makes getting here a snap.

Spivey Hall

Internationally renowned musicians perform everything from chamber music to jazz at this gleaming, modern, acoustically magnificent performance center 15 miles south of Atlanta. The hall is considered one of the country's finest concert venues.

Tabernacle

Downtown

This former church hosts top acts of all genres in a midsize setting. Seating is limited; the main floor is standing-room only.

Variety Playhouse

Little Five Points

This 1,100-capacity venue was once a movie theater and is now one of the cultural anchors of the hip Little Five Points neighborhood. Music lovers come for rock, bluegrass and country, blues, reggae, folk, jazz, and pop.