Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the Ryman Auditorium Seating Chart.
Upcoming events at Ryman Auditorium
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Where to Sit at the Ryman, Briefly
At the Ryman Auditorium, the safest great seat is the front rows of the center balcony. You look straight down over the main floor to the stage, no support posts stand in the way, and the hall's sound carries well up there. If you want to be close, the front and middle of the main floor, center, give the most direct view, and they sell first for big shows. The seats to question are the rear main-floor pews under the balcony, where posts and a low ceiling cut into the view.
The hall seats 2,362, nearly all on wooden church pews, so even the back of the balcony is close by arena standards. It sits half a block north of Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville.
Two Levels of Wooden Pews
The room has two seating levels.
- Main floor: rows of original oak pews from 1895, all facing the stage. The front rows are only steps from the performers.
- Balcony: finished in 1897 as a broad U that curves along the side walls. The renovation of 1993 and 1994 removed its far ends, so it no longer reaches the back wall.
Pews shape the night more than people expect. There are no armrests, legroom is limited, and you share the bench with the people beside you, so a row of fans in winter coats gets snug. Your ticket still lists an individual seat number; the pew just does not mark it.
For decades the balcony was called the Confederate Gallery. In 2017 its inscription was replaced with one reading 1892 Ryman Auditorium.
Clear Views vs. Seats With a Catch
The posts
Columns supporting the balcony stand on the main floor. For some seats beneath and behind the overhang, a post hides part of the stage. The rear main floor also sits under the balcony itself, which dulls the sound a little and blocks your view of the upper stage and lights. When a seat map marks a seat as obstructed or limited view, take it at its word.
Strong choices
- Center balcony, front rows: many regulars call these the best seats in the house, combining height, a clean sightline and good sound.
- Main floor, front to middle, center: the most intimate view, and the first block to go at high-demand shows.
- Side balcony: nearer the stage than the center balcony, but at an angle, so you turn your head and lose a slice of the far side.
Weaker choices
- Back of the main floor: lower prices reflect the posts and the overhang.
- Top rows of the balcony: still close, but steep, with a long climb.
If the artist allows it, fans may stand at their seats all night. If you need to sit, the balcony usually stays seated longer than the front of the floor.
When Ryman Shows Are Hardest to Get
The Ryman books country, rock, Americana, hip-hop and stand-up comedy. With so few seats, it sells out fast for artists who could fill an arena, and many acts book several nights in a row. Demand runs highest on Friday and Saturday nights, during holiday weeks, and for shows that double as recordings or special events. Weeknight comedy and long residencies tend to be easier.
The Grand Ole Opry, which called the Ryman home from 1943 to 1974, has come back for winter stretches. From November 1999 it played its November-to-January shows here every year through the 2019–2020 season, then returned for January runs in 2023 and 2024. Check the Opry's calendar for any current winter dates. Pollstar has named the Ryman its Theater of the Year 13 times, which helps explain the demand.
Tours, Parking and the Walk From Broadway
When no show is loading in, the building offers self-guided and backstage tours every day. The venue lists tour hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with shorter schedules on event days.
The entrance is on the Fourth Avenue side, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues.
- Garage: the Fifth + Broadway garage is directly across the street. Other downtown garages and app-based parking fill the nearby blocks, and weekend-night rates jump.
- On foot: if you are staying downtown, walking is easiest. The honky-tonks of Broadway and Bridgestone Arena are only a few minutes away.
- Rideshare: drop-off is easy. For pickup after the show, walk a block or two off Broadway before you request a car.
- By car: from I-40, take the Broadway exit east into downtown.
Expect heavy crowds when a Ryman show overlaps with an event at Bridgestone Arena, a Titans game or a convention.
Security, Cameras and Access
As of 2025, the Ryman bans oversized bags and weapons, and everyone passes through security screening. Camera rules are set by each show's promoter, but professional cameras with removable lenses are never allowed. Free wheelchair escorts are available at the entrances to take guests to their seats. Rules can change show by show, so read the Ryman's visitor FAQ before you go. Resale orders through Reserved Seat carry a 100% guarantee.
Tabernacle, Opry House, Concert Hall
Nashville businessman Thomas Ryman built the Union Gospel Tabernacle after a revival led by the evangelist Samuel Porter Jones. When Ryman died in 1904, the hall took his name. It hosted concerts as well as sermons from early on; Enrico Caruso sang here in 1919. The Opry years made it the Mother Church of Country Music, with moments such as Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys in 1945, and The Johnny Cash Show taped here from 1969 to 1971.
When the Opry left in 1974, the building sat mostly empty and decaying for almost 20 years, though visitors could still tour it. A renovation returned it to life, and it reopened on June 4, 1994, with a broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion. A 2015 expansion added bigger lobbies, more restrooms and the Cafe Lula restaurant. It became a National Historic Landmark in 2001 and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Landmark in 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best seats at the Ryman Auditorium?
The front rows of the center balcony are often considered the best, with a clear view and no posts. The front and middle of the main floor, center, are the closest seats.
Which Ryman seats have posts in the way?
Some main-floor seats under and behind the balcony overhang have a support post blocking part of the stage. Seats marked limited view on the seating map are the ones affected.
Are the Ryman pews comfortable?
They are wooden church pews with no armrests and limited legroom, and you share the bench with your neighbors. Most fans find them fine for a single show.
How big is the Ryman Auditorium?
It seats 2,362 across the main floor and a U-shaped balcony.
Can I visit the Ryman during the day?
Yes. Self-guided and backstage tours run daily, with listed hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and shorter schedules on show days.
Is there parking near the Ryman?
The Fifth + Broadway garage is directly across the street, and other downtown garages and app-based lots are nearby. Weekend-night rates are higher.