Carnegie Hall

We’ve all been there. You learn that your favorite artist is performing at Carnegie Hall, but there’s one issue: There are no tickets to be found! Don’t lose hope just yet. Try these three insider tips to secure tickets to some of our most in-demand performances.

Tip #1: Take Advantage of $10 Rush Tickets

A limited number of same-day rush tickets are offered to the public on a first-come, first-served basis for all Carnegie Hall presentations in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage—even for shows indicated as being “sold out.” These tickets are only available on the day of the concert and must be purchased in person at the Box Office.

Depending on how popular the performance is, we advise you to come early to secure your spot in line! Two tickets may be purchased per person, pending availability. Please keep in mind that these are Balcony seats (no elevator access, stairs only) and have obstructed views. Our Box Office hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 AM–6 PM, and Sunday, 12 PM–6 PM.

Tip #2: Leverage Your Student Status

If you’re a student, joining our Student Insider program is a great way to secure $10 tickets to some of Carnegie Hall’s most popular concerts. A free, annual registration is all it takes to get started, unlocking access to all active Student Insider offers.

As a Student Insider, you will also have exclusive access to the Hope and Robert F. Smith Chairman Student Seats, offering an unparalleled view of Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage from a prime position on the Parquet level. These seats go on sale the day of each Carnegie Hall presentation in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage (excluding galas and Weill Music Institute events) and are available at the Box Office only.

In addition to Chairman Student Seats, Student Insiders also get $10 discount tickets for additional concerts at Carnegie Hall—available online, over the phone, or at our Box Office.

Tip #3: Check Back Often

Even when a performance is indicated as being “sold out,” tickets might still become available later. Because of this, we highly recommend calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, visiting the Box Office, or checking our website regularly in the days leading up to the concert.

Why does this happen? One reason is that Carnegie Hall subscribers receive free ticket exchanges, which means they may return their subscription tickets in exchange for tickets to another event. Exchanged tickets may then become available for purchase.

A Bonus Tip: Subscribe for Early Access

Carnegie Hall subscribers receive presale access to purchase tickets to all events before they become available to the general public. By purchasing tickets to one of our curated series or creating your own series, you’ll be first in line to secure tickets to concerts even beyond your subscription series.

Subscribing comes with a host of additional benefits, including unlimited no-fee ticket exchanges, priority seating, discounted tickets, a once-per-year subscription fee that replaces all per-ticket convenience fees, flexible payment options, and early access to additional tickets before the public.

Not yet ready to subscribe? You can also secure presale access by becoming a Friend at the $100 level while also supporting Carnegie Hall.

We hope you’ll try out these tips to experience any Carnegie Hall concert that catches your interest! We also offer various discount programs to help you save on tickets, including our military and first-responder discounts and our Notables membership program, which gives music lovers under 40 access to select $20 tickets.

Photography: Julie Skarratt, Jennifer Taylor, and Chris Lee