The Wiltern is a 1,850-capacity Art Deco concert venue at 3790 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, opened in 1931 as the Warner Brothers Western Theatre and named for its cross streets, Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue. Operated by Live Nation, it is one of Los Angeles' most active mid-size concert venues, with a 2026 schedule that includes Dominic Fike, Wolfmother, Bikini Kill, Sierra Ferrell, Kelela, and The Airborne Toxic Event.
In November 2002, The Rolling Stones played the Wiltern as part of their Licks World Tour, a 117-date run celebrating their 40th anniversary. The show was recorded and officially released in March 2024 as "Live at the Wiltern" on DVD, Blu-ray, CD, and vinyl through Mercury Studios. The 20-song set featured rarities like "Stray Cat Blues," "No Expectations," and a guest appearance by Solomon Burke on "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love." Here is Cory Wong's full performance at the Wiltern from his 2023 winter tour, uploaded to his official YouTube channel:
History and Architecture
Architect Stiles O. Clements of Morgan, Walls & Clements designed the Wiltern Theatre and the adjoining 155-foot Pellissier Building. The theater opened in 1931 as the Warner Brothers Western Theatre, a flagship venue for the Warner Bros. cinema chain, with the film "Alexander Hamilton" starring George Arliss. The premiere was a grand affair: when the city refused to close surrounding streets, a 16-foot-high lighted "Bridge of Stars" was built so actors could cross over. Guests included James Cagney, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard.
The theater initially operated as a vaudeville house but closed within a year. It reopened in the mid-1930s under its current name, a portmanteau of Wilshire and Western. The interior features a stunning Art Deco ceiling with a large sunburst plaster relief whose rays resemble skyscrapers, framed by silver stars against a yellow-orange background. Side walls feature slender decorative moldings and geometric elements that serve as accent lighting.
The venue nearly did not survive. In 1956, Franklin Life Insurance Company purchased the building. Pacific Theatres leased it from 1968 until the cinema closed in 1979. Franklin Life secured a demolition permit, and the theater was saved only through the efforts of local preservationists, marking one of the Los Angeles Conservancy's first major victories.
In 1981, developer Wayne Ratkovich purchased the property for $6.3 million. He spent $9 million restoring the Pellissier Building and an additional $4 million returning the theater to its original splendor. Many murals and decorative plasterwork were damaged, interior elements had been looted, and parts of the ceiling had collapsed. The son of the original artist was brought in to assist with restoration. Vintage seats were sourced from the Paramount Theater in Portland. The stage was extended by 15 feet to accommodate live performances. The theater reopened on May 1, 1985, with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.
How the Venue Operates
Live Nation operates the Wiltern as part of its Southern California venue portfolio, which also includes the Hollywood Palladium, House of Blues Anaheim, and other regional venues. The Wiltern serves as a key mid-size touring room in Los Angeles, filling the gap between small clubs (The Echo, The Roxy) and large theaters (Hollywood Palladium, Greek Theatre).
Key operational details:
- Capacity: 1,850 total. The floor is general admission (standing), while the mezzanine and loge levels have fixed seating. Due to the historic building's layout, the loge and mezzanine are accessible by stairs only.
- Booking: Live Nation handles talent buying. The venue books across all genres, from indie rock to K-pop to comedy.
- Tickets: Available through Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The box office is located at the venue.
- Transit: The Metro Purple Line stops directly across the street at the Wilshire/Western station, connecting to Downtown LA, Union Station, and the Red Line to Hollywood. Service runs until midnight on weekdays and 2:00am on weekends.
- Parking: The Wiltern Underground offers premium parking on select shows. The most convenient public lot is the Ralphs parking structure adjacent to the venue, accessible from Oxford Street through the north entrance (not the Ralphs entrance).
- Accessibility: An accessible seating area is located on the floor, left of the stage. A ramp provides access on the left side of the main theater doors.
Real-World Example: David Bowie's 2004 Residency and Madonna's 2019 Run
The Wiltern has hosted several historic multi-night residencies. In 2004, David Bowie played a 28-song setlist at the venue during his Reality Tour. In 2019, Madonna performed a 10-night run of shows on her Madame X tour, a rare extended engagement for an artist of her stature in a 1,850-capacity room. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played one of the first concerts following the 1985 renovation, establishing the venue as a serious concert destination.
The 2026 schedule continues this tradition of diverse, high-profile programming. Dominic Fike's "Comedy Tragedy Parody" tour, Wolfmother's 20th anniversary tour, Bikini Kill's reunion, Sierra Ferrell's "Heavy Petal Tour," CASIOPEA's special live 2026 performance, and The Pretty Reckless' "Dear God Tour" all hit the Wiltern in 2026. The venue also hosts comedy (Trixie and Katya LIVE), anime concerts (My Hero Academia in Concert), and Japanese artist Yuuri's LA debut.
Notable Performances Here
- The Rolling Stones (November 4, 2002) - The Stones played the Wiltern during their Licks World Tour, treating 1,850 fans to a rarities-heavy set including "Stray Cat Blues," "No Expectations," and "Dance, Part 1." The show was officially released in March 2024 as "Live at the Wiltern" on DVD, Blu-ray, and vinyl through Mercury Studios
- Madonna (November 13 through 24, 2019) - Madonna performed a 10-night residency on her Madame X Tour, her first theatrical tour. The run was reviewed by the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly. Tickets originally priced at $70 to $700 were resold for significantly more. Here is "Frozen" from the Madame X Tour, uploaded to Madonna's official YouTube channel with over 1.2 million views:
- David Bowie (February 3 and 7, 2004) - Bowie played two nights at the Wiltern during his A Reality Tour, performing 28-song sets that included "Heroes," "Ziggy Stardust," and "Under Pressure"
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1985) - Played one of the first concerts following the venue's 1985 renovation, establishing the Wiltern as a serious concert destination
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (May 1, 1985) - The first performance after the $13 million restoration, marking the theater's reopening as a live performance venue
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Wiltern is a benchmark venue in Los Angeles. Selling out the Wiltern means you can move 1,850 tickets in the largest US media market, which puts you in the conversation for national touring deals and festival bookings.
Practical considerations for artists targeting this venue:
- Build your draw at smaller LA venues first: The Echo (200 capacity), The Roxy (500), The Fonda Theatre (1,200), and The Novo (2,300) are the stepping stones. Live Nation tracks ticket sales across their LA venue portfolio. Two sold-out nights at the Fonda could earn you a Wiltern offer.
- Understand the economics: A sold-out Wiltern show at 1,850 tickets with an average price of $40 generates approximately $74,000 in gross revenue. After the venue take, production costs, and agent fees, the headliner's net depends on the deal structure. The floor's general admission format means you can offer both standing and seated ticket tiers, which can increase per-head revenue. Use our Tour Revenue Calculator to model different scenarios.
- LA touring strategy: Los Angeles is a mandatory tour stop but an expensive one. Production costs, hotel rooms, and crew rates are high. Pair an LA date with San Diego, Santa Ana (The Observatory), and Anaheim to spread costs across multiple Southern California shows. Read our guide on how to book your first tour for routing templates.
Related Resources
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Estimate earnings from live shows
- How to Book Your First Tour: Step-by-Step Guide
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026
- Guarantee Glossary Definition - How venue guarantee deals work
- The Roxy - A smaller LA club venue (500 capacity) on the Sunset Strip, a stepping stone toward the Wiltern
- Hollywood Bowl - LA's largest outdoor concert venue, the next tier up from the Wiltern for major acts
- Greek Theatre Berkeley - Another historic California theater venue with a similar mid-size capacity
- The Wiltern Official Website - Current event schedule and ticket information
