This place is great! I have enjoyed plenty of events here, last one being an opera. We opted for valet parking which was a good price and in my opinion totally worth it. It would be nice to have more than one drink/snack stand, with so many people, it's almost impossible to get something during an intermission. read more

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We had the pleasure of seeing "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Long Center. Our first time here and it was very walkable from our Hotel, Embassy Suites Downtown Austin. We bypassed all the hustle and bustle traffic. Highly recommend our seats , C Mezzanine section, F. No one in front of us and plenty of leg room. The performance was professionally done and we were thrilled with the amazing actors. Btw , must try their amazing huge chocolate chip cookies, freshly baked and sold at the bar area : ) read more

Long Center - Fiddler on The Roof 2/2026 - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

I attended a day long summit in one of the Long Center meeting rooms during SXSW 2026. It was a lovely light-filled space looking across Lady Bird Lake toward downtown Austin. In fact, I walked across the bridge from downtown to get there and that was a pleasant jaunt. If you are looking for an event space, reach out to them. read more

Long Center - Walking to the Long Center on the protected bridge from downtown (next to but not on the road). - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Go see a ballet or an opera at The Long Center! My treat, except you are paying... Hands down a very fun experience. I've seen Madame Butterfly (Opera) and Grimm Tales (Ballet) so far. Pro Tip: The Long Center has the best view of the city. Very picturesque. 10/10 Arias read more

Long Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It depends on the weather but they have ice skating during the winter and it's so beautiful to have the background of the city skyline as you skate, on a weeknight, with fewer people. It was a Monday and it was more older teens than children, which was the case on a Saturday afternoon. Depending on the weather you could be skating on a semi- frozen lake or on ice. Our weather was perfect, 55F and after an hour, it was enough. They have drinks for purchase, lots of little spaces for decor and pictures, a merry-go-round. I was told they got all new skates this year, which was nice. They are still a little stiff, make sure you wear long socks. Peak times cost around $30 and it's a little cheaper if you go later at night or during the day. Oh, parking in the garage is $10. Lovely way to spend a date! read more

I have been to a few theatres and this one is laid out really well, so easy to access and find where you need to go. The seating was nice, clearly labeled, and comfortable. Volunteers located all around to assist you. Good sound from the orchestra (which was visible) and the stage. When the actors sang there was a board above the stage that had the words on it so you could follow along. Very nice! read more

First time going not a single problem getting to my seat and any questions I had the usher answered successfully. Well drinks were really great too fast service even before the show last minute I'm telling you they work diligently very great people to, hilarious. ambience was beautiful. I could never get over the orchestra being at the bottom everything was so beautiful. Best Christmas experience. read more

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The Long Center hosts free "Drop In" outdoor concerts all summer long from May 22 - August 14 on the Thursdays at 7:00pm. Each week is a different musician. The first Drop In of 2025 featured Brownout, an American Latin-funk band from Austin. A side project of Groupon Fantasmo, they were fantastic! You can sign up online for tickets on their website, or just show up. RSVPs open every Monday at 10am. They email you with a direct link to the ticket and QR code. You can also buy a membership for $120, which gives you early entrance to the venue, access to the Members Lounge, free popcorn, premier seating, and a free t-shirt. There are several food trucks and lines for drinks. Though it gets very crowded, it doesn't take long to get checked in. read more

Long Center - Posing in front of the Drop In photo frame - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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A great function at the Ballet Austin, the closing of our season tickets featured the tragic-romantic story of Romeo and Juliet in a great production They had themed cocktails and the ladies are always servicial and helpful. Pro-tip: attend 1 hour early for the Footlights, which are fun facts about the production and history of the show displayed. #balletaustin #RomeoAndJuliet #longcenter read more

Long Center - Attending the Ballet Austin function - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Short and sweet review- but wanted to show this venue and organization some love! I haven't been inside yet, but was very impressed with the "drop in" Thursday night outdoor concert series! Easy parking ($10), friendly check in, and a fun free night out! The staff were all friendly and they had refillable water stations, food trucks, bars, games, etc. We loved overlooking the city skyline at night time with the great local music. This is an awesome free event! We can't wait for the next one! read more

Long Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

I came here last night with The Things to see "Poe: A Tale of Madness" for a private showing. This work by Stephen Mills explores the haunted life and works of celebrated author Edgar Allan Poe. This work is visually stunning, beautifully danced, and choreographed, and the musical score by the Austin symphony is akin to the best movie scores created. The dancers, "Poe" - Paul Martin, "Raven" - Ian J. Bethany, "Madeline Usher" - Vivien Farrell, "Death" - Edward Carr brought this piece to life with their precise pirouettes, jetés, passés, pliés and raw emotion. This ballet tells the story of Poe's life (in flashbacks and current day) as he writes what come to be some of the best literary works of the current day. Through dance and music, audiences will see Poe's descent into an unstable state as he becomes consumed by his writing. This is a must-see! Regarding the venue itself, it is clean and there isn't a bad seat in the house. There are beverages for purchase in the lobby area and people who work at the venue who will escort you to your seat if you are not familiar with the location. The view from the outside is spectacular. it's truly an unobstructed view of the Austin skyline. Parking the parking garage is $10. However, if you have DV (disabled veteran) plates, parking within the structure is complementary. read more

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Sxsw seeing Uvadale mom. It should be a good movie. Comfortable seats. I am looking forward to hearing from her . Great seats near the front. read more

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As the receptionist said, 'we lucked out!' I got the dates wrong for the show and arrived 1 day late. Guess what?! They gave us two free tickets to the current show and we swear they were the best seats in the house! It was perfect! Never have I ever sat in better seats! I was swept away by the Nutcracker performance, and my husband was able to reminisce about his time as a boy seeing his stepmother on stage (as a professional ballerina with Ballet Austin) read more

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Review for the ice rink- Love that they have an ample number of skating aids. The staff had to work hard keeping the ice from melting in this bizarre heatwave. Really love the location and decorations. We'll be back. read more

Long Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Really enjoyed watching Nutcracker here. Even after a decade and half since they opened and my last review here, I'm proud Austin has a nice performing arts venue that is at high standard. The acoustics here is just grand and all the seats are nice. I sat in the mezzanine level and it felt like sitting right in front lower orchestra. Also you get a nice view of the awesome skyline we have now very different than the tiny college town skyline of 15 years ago, Some negatives - drink lines can be super long. Parking while they have valet - parking fills up quickly and the nearest garage can be at capacity. They have a back up garage down the road but the road network near the center just sucks and there isn't enough support directing traffic. Also although we've had traffic circles for quite sometime - no one seems to know how to use them and I laugh every time someone gets stick in the inner lane of those traffic circles and had to bully there way to the outer lane. Might make sense to just close that lane off and it's also entertaining how the self driving cars navigate getting in and out of traffic. Despite the mess , still got to see the entire show but would've been nice to do some pre show festivities. read more

I'm giving a One Star because Zero is not allowed. I purchased 7 tickets for the Nutcracker Ballet 12/23/2025 matinee performance on October 16, 2025. The tickets were for Parterre Center Row GG. I was visiting my grandchildren in Austin for Christmas and this was their main gift. I live in Nevada. The tickets were purchased through GoTickets- which I assumed was your venue's vendor of choice to handle online purchases.The ticket order #2430736 was confirmed on 10/16. On November 18th, a month later, I received a phone call from GoTickets that my seats were no longer available. No explanation- I was stunned. They offered me 7 seats together in row GG Parterre Left, along with a $500 refund. I felt I had no choice so I accepted the offer, although it was very unsettling that the tickets I purchased the month before were no longer mine. On December 22, the day I was flying into Austin, I received an email from GoTickets that my tickets were guaranteed and delivery was coming soon, keep an eye out in my email. On the morning of December 23, the day of the performance, there was still no email. So I called GoTickets and was informed that my order was cancelled. The tickets were no longer available. I was absolutely upset, annoyed, frustrated, disappointed- you fill in the blank. I tried calling your box office immediately, but only got a voice recording. GoTickets processed the refund immediately, which was a small comfort that I wasn't totally scammed by this experience. But I plan to put this information on Yelp, Google and anyplace else I can imagine to warn others of this experience. read more

I'm actually leaving this review to say this is a solid spot to see the Austin skyline at night, or whenever they aren't having an event given it's proximity to downtown, and the central location when considering the midpoint of the skyline view from the South. I attached a few pictures that show the skyline you can see, and I took the opportunity to grab a few pics of my car while I was over there. The venue itself is very large and has a lot of parking, and was also used as part of the Thanksgiving Day Thundercloud Turkey Trot which I took part in earlier this year as well. It seems well organized and good for the community. read more

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amazing music by fantastic performers. long evolved moving pieces played in a grand acoustically harmonious theater

I have attended so many events at the long center over the 19 years I've lived in Austin. I love all of their free summer music series... Sitting out on the grass, enjoying the city backdrop while listening to music with friends is just a wonderful experience and great addition to the community. I've also attended many ballets at the Long center, and they never disappoint. read more

We haven't been to the indoors auditorium yet but the HEB terrace is so magical, especially around sunset. The skyline is a beautiful setting for a performance. The food is overpriced and wish either the portions were larger or pricing was reasonable. The Sunday night jazz collaboration outside is really nice because you can picnic in the lawn. read more

Long Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The Long Center is an excellent venue. I've seen a variety of different performances here, both inside and outside. Personnel have always treated me with respect. Parking is very easy: large covered parking garage is located with it. Reasonably priced (takes credit). read more

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I've been here several times for occasions such as conferences, concerts, and most recently the ballet. The views are just perfect on the lawn, amazing scene of the downtown skyline. The theater itself was nice and I had a decent view for the ballet. I'd totally come back. My only gripe is parking, it's not super convenient. I'd recommend rideshare. I'd give The Long Center a solid A! read more

This venue is an Austin's gem, experienced it for the first time for the ballet, staff was friendly and attentive, the place has beautiful views to the city , seats were comfortable read more

Well. The folks in the box office were absolutely lovely and helpful Our experience was not so fabulous although the actual ballet by was tremendous! It was a chilly day and so they turned on the heat. Within 10-15 minutes, we were miserable in our seats. My 7 year old granddaughter even took her tights off. They make no accommodations for patrons to take even a purchased water into the auditorium. Zach Theatre is light-years ahead with this regard. The house managers and ushers seemed incredibly preoccupied with face masks to the exclusion of all else. A child in front of us had on bright flashing reindeer antlers and this distraction had to be pointed out to the usher. Eventually, the heat was adjusted and we were more comfortable. I was very put off by the complete inattention of the house managers and ushers. There was no welcome or smile or thank you. The entire experience was extremely cold and impersonal. Perhaps the goal in usher training is 'professionalism.' But cold to the point of near rudeness is not professional. read more

Long Center - We're so excited to see The Nutcracker! - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

The pizza is super greasy and sooooo good and we have determined we would pay to be here. read more

Long Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

Totally fall for this place. The arc of the open stage is great and we had this concert performed by the Austin Symphony and everyone enjoyed the music and had great fun. It's pet friendly as well. read more

Long Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Came out here to the Long Center for the premier of the Nutcracker. We were pleased with this center. It is a rather large place with plenty of space, very clean, and modern looking. The Long center had an ice skating ring set up out doors, and was decorated nicely for theChristmas season. Free coffee was made available to guests. There were plenty of assistants standing in ready to help anyone looking for something in particular. The center has stairs, elevators, plenty of bathrooms. Valet parking available, separate parking garage for the center, with electric car charging stations in the garage. The center also had set ups in place for the sale of beverages and simple snacks. Locations in the center made available for meet and greet of some of the Nutcracker performers, with areas also set up for photos. Everything and everyone was very organized and everyone was kind. We enjoyed the afternoon out here and the performance of the Nutcracker. read more

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Over the past year I have come to love the Long Center more and more! They throw so many amazing events for the city and a lot of them free! My favorite this summer has been the Drop-In. They have live music every Thursday evening. You just have to create a log-in the Long Center website and sign up for your free tickets every Monday morning. There are also usually vendors set-up with freebies, tastings and vendors to buy food and drinks. You can bring you blankets, chairs and dogs. Many more fun events here. Check it out! read more

I love coming for the opera! Although the seats are a bit difficult for a long performance (no pun intended), the quality of the productions makes it worthwhile! read more

Long Center - Almost curtain time! - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

Absolutely one of the worst experiences of our lives. They asked us to remove our three year old from the nutcracker due to her looking at our phone. To keep her from getting upset. I know it's not ideal. But she's 3!!!! Can't actually talk to anyone either there. This place is a joke. read more

Whaaaaaaat? I haven't written a review for The Long Center? Hmmmmm... Ive seen a number of shows here, so many I can't remember. I like this theater, (the main and smaller). It's one of my favorites. I think I like the layout at Bass a bit better, but the acoustics here seem to be better. The seats are roomier and there's a bit more room to walk if others are already seated. I've sat in various areas, so I do speak from experience. Pretty much any seat is a pretty good one. Upper balcony is a bit steep. That part I'm not so crazy about. Even a show on the grassy lawn is a treat. The view of downtown can't be beat, so if you can hang around a bit and enjoy the outdoor section, do it. The building design is so cool in that they incorporated part of the old Palmer Auditorium inside and out. The green tiles from the former structure have been put to good use as well as the round rim of the former dome. Well done! read more

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The Long Center is one of the premier theatre facilities in Austin hosting a wide variety of performances. Located in heart of downtown on the southern banks of Lady Bird Lake it surely stands out. It shares a large parking garage with Palmer Events Center and Auditorium Shores. I always arrive early to make sure I can find a spot where there is always something going on in the surrounding area especially in the evening or weekends. The garage has two entry points so makes it easy and parking costs is always under $10. They take both cash and credit cards. There is also valet parking and always had a good experience using but can back up getting your vehicle. The Long Center main attraction is the Michael & Susan Dell Hall and Debra & Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre. Dell Hall is the larger venue and Rollins is much smaller. Both have excellent acoustics. I have sat pretty much everywhere and depending on the show I select my favorite seat selection. One time I sat in the box seats, and took a private elevator and walked through dark hallway not knowing our guide was taking us to our seats or Phantom of the Opera's lair. I mostly sit in the orchestra about 10 rows from the stage to have a good view. The orchestra has two walk isles that run down on each side and if you sit next to it then should have a good clear view of the stage. But never know a tall person sits in front of you. Happened to me and returned to another date to enjoy the ballet. There are plenty of restrooms and bars. If you find it cramped in the lobby then go up a level and there is even an outdoor covered patio. A member lounge is present and very nice. The staff is very professional and if you did not purchase tickets at home then there is a ticket office outside for buying and will call. After a night show you do not have to rush out where can wait until the garage leaving traffic dies down by hanging out in the H-E-B Terrace enjoying a great view of Austin's continuously changing downtown skyline. read more

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I was excited to check out a small comedy event with David Spade on Tuesday 4/19. My father was visiting me because I had just moved here two weeks ago. While I had to the Uber drop him off at the event and take me to my apartment to drop off the leftovers from dinner..... I started to scooter back and was hit by a car and flew into the road, chipped my tooth, cut my eye and have a huge bruise on my side. I was hit at 7:50 PM (10 minutes before the show) and waited for the cops to show up for 2 hours which made me miss the whole show. All I was looking for was some type of credit/reimbursement for another show later down the road, but nope the lovely lady on the phone basically said tough luck we don't do that. What a warm welcome to Austin TX after only moving here 2.5 weeks ago read more

Wow...so I have been to so many events at the Long Center that I can't believe I haven't reviewed it until now! This fabulous venue is so mutli-faceted it is incredible! The plethora of events they host run a spectrum that very few other venues can boast! I have been to: -Broadway Shows -Local Theater Productions -Private Party Rental Space -International Culture Shows -USA World Cup Viewing Party -Summer Movie Series -Food Truck Trailer Tuesdays -Master Pancake Viewing Party -Swanky Fundraisers -Their Open House showcasing the many ways they use this facility Seriously, this venue has everything and anything that is art or culturally relevant to Austin and also has one of the best views of the skyline! It is just a fantastically stunning piece of architecture as well! Even if you aren't coming to watch some sort of show here, you can come and cloudwatch from the sweeping lawn space in front of the terrace. This is the most versatile event venue in the city and one of my favorite places! Again, my only gripe w/most places in dwntwn ATX is parking...unless you have a pretty penny to pay for valet or want to dish out some dollars for the adjacent parking garage, you have to parking spot scout on the side streets; if you do, allow yourself an extra 30mins before your show! read more

This was a beautiful afternoon date with my partner to the Long Center to watch a short Hour Ballet from Shakespeare's a Midsummer's Night Dream. The staff was friendly, the amenities were very clean and the ballet was beautiful! You need to show your covid card & wear a mask, but that was nothing compared to getting to see live ballet again! Will be coming back again! read more

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This was my first time seeing a performance inside the Long Center. Before this, I had always been to lawn shows. One thing to know, there is a large parking garage located with two entrances. For me, it is easier to take the back entrance on Barton Spring. You can also enter via Riverside. The Long Center inside has multiple levels with restrooms and bars located on each level. The drinks are your usual overpriced drinks for these types of events. I was able to take my drink inside the show but I had to have a lid on my cup. This was a little amusing to me since I had decided on a merlot that evening. My husband and I sat in the left side balcony section. I would note that the theater is weirdly steep in the balcony section. I could see if you had big heel or maybe a few too many having some issues here. Overall, a great theater and highly recommend catching a show here whenever you get a chance. read more

Love this beautiful hall with the amazing acoustics - both great for the opera, broadway shows, or even magic shows. There really isn't a terrible seat. Challenges - departing the venue. If you're Mezzanine or Balcony, it'll take you a bit to get down the stairs (especially if you're at an event when folks are wearing formal attire). Plus, leaving the parking garage can be a bit of a challenge - it'll take you awhile since there are only two egresses. Be patient. Go take photos with the downtown skyline behind you. Walk across the street and grab a frozen custard from Sandy's. read more

Parking is very problematic at the Long Center. They don't seem equipped to deal with large crowds. There was zero communication with drivers entering Riverside from South First on Saturday. Which line was which? They both appeared to be going to the U-shaped drop-off point. Finally, a guy came out and was talking to each car individually on which line to get in. I'm sure some of the people were late in getting to the performance. Unacceptable. read more

Had a great time at the ballet today. The long center is a great place to see ballet, opera, and they also have a smaller theater where I have seen great work in the past. Dress code is loose, and people wear everything from gowns to shorts. read more

I've been to the Long Center a hand full of times now and I feel like I owe this place a review. I've seem the Nutcracker Ballet twice, Annie and a couple of other shows. The building is pretty nice and offers some great views of the city and Lake Lady Bird. They serve all sorts of drinks and snacks at the concessions. Drinks you can take in the theater, but food you can not. I appreciate the drink situation and agree with the food rule. Seriously who wants someone crumbling the candy wrapper in the middle of a performance... annoying. The seats here are pretty good in my opinion. I tend to judge a venue on the seats and how comfortable I can be. If you are overweight and think about this kind of thing - the seats here are not bad. I have been in the top balcony, mezzanine and orchestra level seating here and they were all great. I loved being on the orchestra level because I could see more of the fine details happening on stage. I was able to walk up to the pit orchestra before the show started as well. I also liked being on the mezzanine because I could see down into the orchestra pit. I like to see the conductor and instrumentalists. Any where you sit here is a pretty good seat. I am a huge fan of the fine arts and appreciate having a performing arts center in Austin like The Long Center. I will continue to attend performances here as long as I am a resident. They offer season pass packages and I saw an excellent Black Friday deal on the packages just recently. I considered doing it but waited too long... I will be on the look out for next year though. read more

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