For other venues, teams and events nearby, see the Atlanta guide.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's home in Midtown
Atlanta Symphony Hall is the 1,762-seat concert hall inside the Woodruff Arts Center at 1280 Peachtree Street in Midtown. It is the home of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which plays its classical subscription season here, and it also hosts the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, family and holiday concerts, films with live orchestra, and the Symphony Hall LIVE series of pop, jazz and comedy acts.
The best seats for sound are in the middle of the orchestra level and at the front of the lower balcony. The hall is small by big-city standards, so even the upper balcony is a reasonable seat for an orchestra concert; it is the level to save money on, not one to avoid.
How the hall is laid out
Symphony Hall has three seating levels. The official counts, published on Wikipedia, are:
- Orchestra: 1,074 seats on the main floor, the large majority of the hall.
- Lower balcony: 349 seats on the first raised level.
- Upper balcony: 339 seats on the top level, the steepest and farthest from the stage.
Each level is divided into center, left and right sections. The orchestra rows are lettered from the stage back. Depending on the stage setup, up to 82 extra seats can be added in the orchestra pit area, and the hall also has 12 wheelchair spaces with 12 companion seats.
Because the two balconies hold fewer than 700 seats between them, they are shallow, so even their back rows are not far from the stage by concert-hall standards.
Best seats for symphony, pops and Symphony Hall LIVE
Seat advice here draws on the Atlanta.com seating guide and on how orchestral sound works in a hall of this shape; confirm row letters on the seat map before you buy.
Classical concerts
- Orchestra center, rows H to O: the best-blended sound, with strings, winds and brass arriving together.
- Orchestra center, rows C to G: close to the conductor, with violins and brass more distinct. Great for watching a soloist; less balanced for a symphony.
- Lower balcony center, front rows: clear, direct sound and a view of the whole orchestra, including the percussion at the back.
- Upper balcony: the least expensive level. The sound carries well in a hall this size, and the angle shows every section of the orchestra.
Pops, film concerts and LIVE shows
When a screen is involved, as in a film-with-orchestra concert, sit farther back so the screen and the orchestra fit in one view: the rear orchestra or the lower balcony works best. For a solo artist or comedian, closeness matters more, so front and middle orchestra seats are the pick.
Seats to think twice about
- The first rows and any pit seats: you look up at the stage and hear the nearest players over the rest.
- Far side seats in the front orchestra: a sharp angle and an unbalanced sound from one side of the orchestra.
Parking and MARTA
The simplest way to arrive is MARTA: the Arts Center station is directly across Arts Center Way from the Woodruff Arts Center. If you drive, the main option is the Woodruff Arts Center Garage, entered from Arts Center Way off 15th or 16th Street. As of 2026, the ASO charges a flat event rate for Atlanta Symphony and Symphony Hall LIVE concerts, and spaces can be prepaid through Ticketmaster, ParkMobile or the box office. The arts center notes that drive-up parking is not guaranteed, so prepay on a busy night.
- Valet: at Callaway Plaza, entered from Peachtree Street between 15th and 16th Streets; spaces are limited.
- Other garages: 1180 Peachtree, Promenade Tower at 1230 Peachtree and the Boys and Girls Clubs garage at 1275 Peachtree are all nearby.
- Rideshare: use the rideshare sign by the Callaway Plaza entrance, or Arts Center Way across from the MARTA station.
- Accessible parking: on every level of the Woodruff garage.
See the ASO's directions and parking page for current rates.
Bag rules, dress and arrival
As of 2026, the ASO does not allow backpacks, oversized purses, large umbrellas, instruments or instrument cases, or laptops and iPads into Symphony Hall. Professional cameras and any audio or video recording device are also banned. Check the current policy before you go.
- Dress code: there is none. Audiences wear everything from denim to cocktail dresses.
- Children: welcome, though the ASO does not recommend bringing children under 4 to classical programs; family concerts and film concerts are better first visits.
- Arrival: the Galleria of the Memorial Arts Building opens two hours before each concert; the ASO suggests arriving at least 20 minutes early. Latecomers are seated under the ASO's late-seating policy, so check it if you are running behind.
- Accessibility: all concerts are accessible, accessible seats are marked in Ticketmaster's seat map, and wheelchairs can be requested at the Callaway Plaza turnaround on Peachtree Street.
History of Symphony Hall
The hall is part of the Memorial Arts Building, which opened in 1968 as a memorial to the Atlanta arts patrons killed in the 1962 Orly air crash near Paris. Ground was broken on June 3, 1966, the fourth anniversary of the crash. The building became the core of what is now the Woodruff Arts Center, alongside the Alliance Theatre and the High Museum of Art.
Seating and air conditioning were upgraded before the 1996 Summer Olympics. The hall has never been known for its acoustics, and Atlanta has long talked about replacing it: a Santiago Calatrava design for a new Atlanta Symphony Center on 14th Street was unveiled in 2005 and canceled in 2008 for lack of funding, and the site was later sold. As of 2026, the ASO's stated plan is a new hall on the Woodruff campus at 15th and Peachtree Streets, with no date announced.
Frequently asked questions
How many seats are in Atlanta Symphony Hall?
1,762: 1,074 in the orchestra, 349 in the lower balcony and 339 in the upper balcony. Up to 82 more can be added in the pit area.
What are the best seats at Atlanta Symphony Hall?
Center orchestra in the middle rows gives the best-blended sound, and the front rows of the lower balcony give clear sound with a full view of the orchestra.
Where do you park for Atlanta Symphony Hall?
Park in the Woodruff Arts Center Garage, entered from Arts Center Way off 15th or 16th Street, or use valet at Callaway Plaza. Prepaying guarantees a space.
Is there a MARTA stop near Atlanta Symphony Hall?
Yes. Arts Center station is directly across Arts Center Way from the Woodruff Arts Center.
Is there a dress code at the Atlanta Symphony?
No. The ASO says audiences wear anything from jeans to cocktail attire, so dress comfortably.
Can I bring a bag into Atlanta Symphony Hall?
Small bags are fine, but as of 2026 backpacks, oversized purses, large umbrellas, laptops and tablets are not allowed. Check the current policy before you go.