The Kennedy Center Seating Chart
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts complex at 2700 F Street NW in Washington, D.C., beside the Potomac River. It opened on September 8, 1971, and holds several theaters, led by the 2,465-seat Concert Hall, the 2,347-seat Opera House and the 1,161-seat Eisenhower Theater. The main building has been temporarily closed since September 16, 2026, with no reopening date announced, while the REACH stays open.
Quick answer
The Kennedy Center's Concert Hall seats 2,465, the Opera House 2,347 and the Eisenhower Theater 1,161, according to the center. Its smaller stages include the Terrace Theater with about 490 seats, the Theater Lab with 388 and the Family Theater with about 320.
- The main building has been temporarily closed since Sept. 16, 2026.
- The REACH wing remains open.
- None of the three main halls has a Third Tier.
- Foggy Bottom-GWU is the nearest Metro station.
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Sections at The Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center holds several theaters, each with its own seating chart. The level names below are read off the center's official charts for the Opera House, Concert Hall and Eisenhower Theater.
- Concert Hall — Orchestra, Parterre boxes, Box Tier, 1st Tier and 2nd Tier, plus onstage boxes and chorister seats
- Opera House — Orchestra, Box Tier, 1st Tier and 2nd Tier
- Eisenhower Theater — Orchestra rows A to Y, Box Tier boxes 1 to 7 and a Balcony
- Terrace Theater, Theater Lab and Family Theater — smaller stages
- The REACH — a newer wing of studios and rooms, such as Studio K, which seats 200 at round tables
Best seats at The Kennedy Center
We found no official best-seat guide, and each hall has its own layout, so start by checking which theater your show is in. In the Opera House and the Concert Hall, the tiers above the Orchestra are called the Box Tier, 1st Tier and 2nd Tier. None of the three main halls has a Third Tier. The Concert Hall also has onstage boxes, chorister seats and parterre seats, added in a later renovation.
Tips before you go
Check the center's website before you go: the main building has been temporarily closed since September 16, 2026, with no reopening date announced. Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station is a short walk away along New Hampshire Avenue, and the center normally runs its own shuttle. Garage parking is first come, first served, and prepaid parking must be bought online at least a day ahead. The Roof Terrace Restaurant is closed for the foreseeable future.
How to read the The Kennedy Center seating chart
In the Opera House, the Orchestra includes Prime and Premium zones. The Box Tier is a single curved row of numbered seats, and the 1st and 2nd Tier centers have rows A to G. The center lists 2,347 seats, though one older page says 2,364.
The Concert Hall adds Parterre Orchestra Boxes, onstage boxes and chorister seats to its Orchestra, Box Tier, 1st Tier and 2nd Tier. The Eisenhower Theater has an Orchestra from row A to Y, seven Box Tier boxes and a Balcony.
The Terrace Theater sits on the roof terrace level, and the REACH is a separate wing of studios and rooms that stayed open during the main building's closure.
Building a seating chart for an event at The Kennedy Center
The Eisenhower Theater grew from about 1,100 seats to 1,161 after its renovation. The Washington National Opera was a resident company from the center's opening until 2026.
Hosting a private event at The Kennedy Center?
From dinner rounds to program rows to head tables, lay out your The Kennedy Center event the way the room will actually run. The maker supports up to 500 seats and exports a print-ready PDF for the Washington venue's event staff.
Open the seating chart generatorFrequently asked questions
- How many seats are in the Kennedy Center's theaters?
- The Kennedy Center's Concert Hall seats 2,465, the Opera House 2,347 and the Eisenhower Theater 1,161, according to the center. Its smaller stages include the Terrace Theater with about 490 seats, the Theater Lab with 388 and the Family Theater with about 320.
- What are the best seats at The Kennedy Center?
- We found no official best-seat guide, and each hall has its own layout, so start by checking which theater your show is in. In the Opera House and the Concert Hall, the tiers above the Orchestra are called the Box Tier, 1st Tier and 2nd Tier. None of the three main halls has a Third Tier. The Concert Hall also has onstage boxes, chorister seats and parterre seats, added in a later renovation.
- What sections does The Kennedy Center have?
- Main sections include: Concert Hall — Orchestra, Parterre boxes, Box Tier, 1st Tier and 2nd Tier, plus onstage boxes and chorister seats; Opera House — Orchestra, Box Tier, 1st Tier and 2nd Tier; Eisenhower Theater — Orchestra rows A to Y, Box Tier boxes 1 to 7 and a Balcony. Full breakdown in the sections list above.
- Where is The Kennedy Center located?
- The Kennedy Center is at 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566, on the Potomac. Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station is a short walk away.
- How do I plan a private event at The Kennedy Center?
- The center rents its theaters and rooms, though the main-building theaters are unavailable during the closure and the REACH rooms remain open. Draft the Kennedy Center gala's table plan in our free chart maker.