Everything You Need to Know to See a Concert at the Hollywood Bowl
How to plan a visit to LA's iconic outdoor concert venue, including a sneaky front-row seating tip and highlights of the season
Los Angeles may not have obvious seasonal changes like fall foliage or winter snow, but there are plenty of things that divide the calendar. And one of the best and most iconic ways to mark the summer season in the city is seeing a concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Since it opened in 1922, this arboreal oasis in the hills above Hollywood has been the perfect spot to catch concerts from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which migrates from home at Disney Hall in Downtown LA to the Bowl from June to September. And the stunning outdoor venue also hosts a wide variety of musical acts across genres, from legendary rock bands to movie musical sing-alongs, jazz festivals, and beyond. If you’re heading to this historic establishment this summer, here is everything you need to know to make the most of a concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Who’s playing at The Hollywood Bowl and how do I get tickets?
Over the course of the summer season, the Hollywood Bowl curates more than 70 events, including classical performances, jazz nights, musicals, sing-alongs, and pop music evenings put on in collaboration with LA’s favorite radio station, KCRW. The regular classical performances are consistently excellent, led by the great Gustavo Dudamel, and the recurring movie nights like the upcoming Jaws in concert and the John Williams tribute night are crowd pleasers. Look out for the much-loved Reggae night too, returning for its 23rd edition and featuring Damian and Stephen Marley.
On top of their regular schedule, the Bowl plays hosts to some of the biggest artists in the world. (Many of these are “lease events,” since they’re produced by an outside promoter and not the Bowl itself.) In 2025, Mumford & Sons, Big Thief, LCD Soundsystem, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, SiR, Juanes, and Neil Young will perform, and The Who will grace the stage for two nights this September as part of their final U.S. tour.
Tickets for every event are available through the Hollywood Bowl website. Given the wide range of performances, ticket prices vary greatly. For classical events, they can be as low as $1 or stretch all the way up to $165. For lease events, tickets can run from around $40 up to $400.
Which seating section is best for me?
The Bowl has three types of seats: boxes, superseats, and benches.
Boxes are small, walled-off areas that include either four or six seats. The chairs themselves are freestanding, so they can be turned to face any direction. If the show is fit for dancing, they can be folded up to create more room within the box. The boxes can also be fitted with tables, allowing patrons to enjoy a nice sit-down meal in their seats before the music begins. They’re pricier, but they can make for a truly luxurious live music experience.
The superseats are the same kind of seats you’ll find at a baseball stadium, folding chairs separated by armrests. These are pretty standard seating, but it’s worth noting that the front row of the superseats in section J1 is right behind the enclosed lighting booth, which many artists over the years have used as an improvised second stage for a song or two. If you’re lucky, those seats can offer a different kind of front-row experience.
The rest of the seats—the vast majority of the Bowl—are wooden benches. For less crowded events like classical performances and jazz nights, it’s possible to have a whole bench to yourself, and you should feel free to spread out. And if you’d prefer not to sit on the hard wood, you can rent seat cushions for $1.
As a general tip for all seating areas, the further west you sit in the venue, the earlier you will enjoy the shade. The west side is on your left if you’re looking at the stage. But by the time the music starts, the entire theater will be cool under the shadows of the gorgeous trees surrounding the venue.
Where should I stay?
If you’re traveling from out of town, staying anywhere in the Hollywood & Highland area will offer walkable access to the Bowl. You’ll also be in the middle of one of LA’s tourist hotspots, with plenty to do nearby and also a metro station to take you around town.
If staying in the thick of it isn’t your thing, Burbank is just over the hill from the Bowl. It’s far less touristy, and still offers LA attractions like the Warner Bros. Studio tour. For theme park enthusiasts, Universal Studios Hollywood is also just around the corner. Stay at one of the Universal hotels, spend a day enjoying Super Mario Land, and then head a few minutes down the road for a concert at the Bowl.
Where should I eat?
The Hollywood Bowl offers numerous food options, from sit-down restaurants like The Backyard and Ann’s Wine Bar to grab-and-go options such as pizza and fried chicken, all overseen by chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur Caroline Styne of the Lucques Group. If you’re in a box, you can even have food delivered straight to your seats.
But the real pro move is bringing your own meal from a restaurant nearby, and eating dinner in one of the Bowl’s gorgeous picnic areas. All Bowl-sponsored events allow patrons to bring in as much food and drink as they want, including alcohol, so you can curate your menu and then take in incredible views of Los Angeles from the venue itself. But be sure to get there early if you want the best picnic tables—they’re always in very high demand.
For a classic California meal, there’s an In-N-Out on Highland and Sunset. Put it in an insulated bag, and by the time you get to the Bowl, the burgers will still be fresh. If you’re coming from Burbank, Handy Market is a great choice—head to the deli to get sandwiches and every side you could ever want at a picnic, and they have a great selection of craft beer too. For those who want to do true Hollywood, historic hotspots Musso & Frank and Smoke House are close by as well for an ideal pre- or post-show dinner; if you’re heading to Smoke House make sure to get cheesy garlic bread.
How do I get to and from the Hollywood Bowl?
With the Bowl’s central location, there are plenty of options for simple and affordable transportation, but the best methods are the shuttles and park & ride service. There are 19 locations throughout LA County to meet a shuttle bus, which will take you directly to the Bowl and then back at the end of the night. Tickets range from $6 to $12.45.
The Hollywood & Highland subway station is roughly a 20-minute walk from the theater. A round trip on the train is $3.50, but unless you enter on the B line, you will have to change lines at least once to reach the station.
Like all modern venues, the Bowl has a rideshare lot, but it can get hectic at the end of the night. And your last resort for coming to the Bowl should be driving yourself and parking at the venue. Prices for parking range from $45 to $90, and you should always reserve in advance; space is limited and spots are stacked, meaning you can’t leave at your leisure—unless you slip the parking attendant something extra to get a spot on the edge.
What should I expect at a show?
First and foremost, expect great sound and views no matter where you sit. L-Acoustics, the world’s premier loudspeaker manufacturer, designed the audio system. The only downside to sitting in the very back is that there is some delay between the sound and video screens.
Visually, the Bowl’s iconic white shell is magnificent in and of itself, and patrons sitting in the back have a gorgeous panorama of the mountains, the famous Hollywood sign, and the best seat in the house for another fun summer Bowl tradition: fireworks. Multiple Bowl events feature fireworks shows, including, of course, the annual 4th of July concert series. This year, it’s Earth, Wind & Fire celebrating America’s birthday with spectacular explosions. Plus, because the Bowl is situated on a hill, after the sun goes down, you can head to the higher areas to see fireworks being launched all over LA.
Another important thing to expect is a lot of walking uphill. There are escalators to assist, but most patrons will have to traverse at least a few hills and staircases. That said, the Bowl is fully accessible and has an accessible path and elevators to wheelchair accessible seating locations.
If you’re going to a lease event, you will not be able to bring your own food and drinks, so be prepared to buy what you need on site, with a cashless form of payment—the Bowl is completely cashless. Lease events generally bring in the biggest artists, so you should also expect sold-out crowds and longer lines.
For the regular Bowl schedule, seats in the pool circle at the very front of the amphitheater are reserved for major donors. But when the big artists come to town for lease events, fans can buy tickets in the front row.
What if there isn’t a show going on?
The Bowl is a great place to spend the day, even if there is no music happening. It is legally a public park, so Angelenos can hang out in the picnic areas and use the stairs for exercise. There is also a small museum dedicated to the venue that is open year-round and always free to enter.
Lastly, and this is a real treat, when the LA Phil is set to perform in the evening, they rehearse during the day at the Bowl, and anyone can come watch the rehearsals for free.