Music Venue

Webster Hall

A historic nightclub and concert venue in the East Village of Manhattan, built in 1886. Capacity of 1,500 across three rooms. Designated a New York City landmark in 2008. Operated by AEG Presents and The Bowery Presents. Renovated and reopened in 2019. Approximately 184,000 visitors per year.

New York, USA

1500 capacity

Est. 1886

Visit Website

Music Genres

rockindieelectronichip-hoppopalternative

About Webster Hall

Interested in Webster Hall?

Visit the official website for event schedules, ticket information, and venue details.

View Events

Webster Hall is a historic nightclub and concert venue at 119-125 East 11th Street in the East Village of Manhattan, built in 1886. It has a capacity of 1,500 across three rooms: the Grand Ballroom (1,500), the Marlin Room (600), and the Studio (300 to 400). Webster Hall is best suited for touring acts and established independent artists who can fill a mid-sized room in New York City. The venue hosts approximately 184,000 visitors per year and has 70 concerts scheduled for 2026-2027.

About Webster Hall

Webster Hall was built in 1886 by architect Charles Rentz in the Queen Anne style, with a Renaissance Revival annex added in 1892. It is one of New York City's oldest entertainment venues, widely considered the first modern nightclub in the United States. The building was designated a New York City landmark on March 18, 2008. Throughout its history, Webster Hall has served as a venue for labor rallies, drag balls, costume events, and political protests. From 1980 to 1992, it operated as The Ritz, a pioneering rock venue. Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews, Woody Guthrie, and Pete Seeger all recorded or performed there.

BSE Global and The Bowery Presents (a subsidiary of AEG) acquired the operating rights in February 2017. After a nearly two-year renovation, the venue reopened on April 26, 2019 with a concert by Jay-Z. The renovation preserved the original stage in the Grand Ballroom while upgrading acoustics, adding air conditioning, expanded restrooms, additional stairwells, and the building's first-ever elevator. The Marlin Room was revamped and renamed The Ritz Lounge, with gold stenciling on the walls that references the original historic design. The building is owned by Unity Gallega (Casa Galicia of New York) and leased by AEG Presents, Brooklyn Sports Entertainment, and The Bowery Presents. Gerard McNamee has served as venue director since 1993 (with a gap from 1997 to 2008).

Room Breakdown and Booking

Webster Hall's three rooms operate independently, allowing different show sizes on the same night:

Grand Ballroom (1,500 capacity): The main concert room on the second floor. GA standing main floor with a wraparound balcony. Gothic chandeliers and the original preserved stage. ADA viewing area on house left. This is where most headline concerts take place.
Marlin Room / Ritz Lounge (600 capacity): A separate room for smaller headlining acts, club nights, and private events. Revamped in 2019 with a bar and meeting space design.
The Studio (300 to 400 capacity): A venue-within-a-venue for emerging artists and intimate shows. Opened in October 2008. Hosts a range of smaller-scale performances.

All tickets are sold through AXS. Age restrictions vary by event (regular club nights are 19+, concert nights vary). Bags over 14 inches by 14 inches are not permitted. The venue is accessible by subway at 14th Street-Union Square (4, 5, 6, 6 express, L, N, Q, R, W trains) and Third Avenue (L train).

Booking is controlled by AEG Presents and The Bowery Presents. Artists typically need agent or manager representation to secure a show. For private events and rentals, contact Brooke Uris, Director of Special Events, at buris@bowerypresents.com.

Key Benefits for Independent Artists

Three-room scalability: Artists can play the room that matches their draw, from 300 (The Studio) to 1,500 (Grand Ballroom).
140-year cultural history: Webster Hall's legacy gives it credibility that newer venues cannot match. Playing there connects artists to a lineage that includes Elvis Presley and Tina Turner.
East Village location: The neighborhood attracts a young, music-savvy audience near NYU and Union Square.
Bowery Presents booking pipeline: The Bowery Presents team has a track record of developing artists from small rooms to larger venues across their NYC portfolio.
Modern production quality: The 2019 renovation upgraded sound, lighting, and HVAC while preserving the building's historic character.
High concert volume: With 70 upcoming concerts in 2026-2027 and over 4,000 past concerts logged, the venue maintains an active booking calendar.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

The 1,500-capacity Grand Ballroom is large for emerging artists, who should target The Studio (300 to 400) instead. Booking is controlled by AEG Presents and The Bowery Presents, meaning artists typically need agent or manager representation. Direct booking without industry connections is difficult. The East Village has become increasingly expensive, changing the neighborhood's demographic and pushing some music audiences to Brooklyn. The building's landmark status limits technical modifications and production flexibility. Parking in the East Village is extremely difficult for tour vehicles and loading is tight. The venue competes with many other New York clubs, including Brooklyn Steel, Bowery Ballroom, and Music Hall of Williamsburg. The three-room layout can create noise bleed between spaces during simultaneous events. New York City's high costs for accommodation and transport significantly affect touring budgets. Tickets are sold exclusively through AXS, which charges service fees that some fans find high.