7 Best Performing Arts Venues in Austin, Texas

Housed in a restored downtown vaudeville house and movie palace on Congress Avenue, this gorgeous 1915 theater is a go-to favorite for local performance arts lovers of all shapes and sizes. Every year, the Paramount's calendar of events ranges widely, from live stand-up comedy specials and short film festival series to touring author Q&As and podcast tapings. The cool respite of their annual Summer Classic Film Series is beloved by all ages. It's also an important flagship venue for annual fests like SXSW and the Moontower Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.

Eight classical concerts, four pops concerts, a holiday-favorite performance, a children's Halloween presentation, and many free events are performed by the Austin Symphony, Austin's oldest performing arts organization, throughout the year. Performances are held at the Long Center.

Located in a state-of-the-art downtown center, Ballet Austin has risen in prominence since its founding in 1956 as the city's preeminent dance company. Part performance company and part dance academy, with classes available to the general public, Ballet Austin puts on a regular lineup of ballet productions at the Long Center throughout the year, including an extremely popular annual rendition of the classic The Nutcracker each holiday season. The performance season runs from September through May, and the downtown studio offers a diverse schedule of dance, Pilates, and other fitness classes throughout the year.

Along the banks of Lady Bird Lake, this cultural arts center is a celebration of latino heritage that blends a variety of theater, music, dance, literature, and culinary traditions into workshops, live performances, and educational classes to help foster a cultural foundation throughout Austin. On the last Tuesday of every month, there is a free screening of films from the Golden Era of Mexico's cinema in its main auditorium. The building houses two art galleries with free admission (closed Sunday).

You’ll want to visit the Long Center as much for what’s happening inside as for its ultramodern exterior and unbeatable views of the downtown skyline. The lakefront performance venue and community gathering place is home to a range of live performances throughout the year, including lyric operas, ballets, rock concerts, and many of Austin’s prime foodie and outdoor festival events, from the Austin Food + Wine Festival to SXSW. Food trucks, pop-up art installations, and a wide variety of free special events are also hosted on the city terrace.

One of the city's most vibrant and innovative theaters, this expansive multistage complex hosts a number of theatrical performances, intimate celebrity talks, and special events year-round. An integral part of the Austin community for more than 90 years, ZACH also serves the local arts community with a year-round season of shows, theater camps, and educational activities.

Bring a blanket and picnic basket to this natural amphitheater and enjoy a Broadway-inspired musical under the warm Texas sky. Right in the heart of the Zilker Park complex, this locally run outdoor theater production company has been performing family-friendly musical theater on the hillsides just across from Barton Springs for almost 70 years. The shows run through summers only; check the events calendar for updated showtimes and information.