Tennessee Theatre
The Tennessee Theatre is a restored 1928 movie palace at 604 South Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, the Official State Theatre of Tennessee and a Big Ears Festival venue. The entrance is at street level with no steps and an elevator to the auditorium and restrooms, though most balcony seats still mean stairs with no handrails. More than 10 downtown garages and lots are free after 6pm on weekdays and all day at weekends, backpacks and oversized bags are turned away, and sensory bags and a quiet zone are available.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Indoor: orchestra level, mezzanine, balcony and lower lounge, with the new 612 S. Gay Street lounges alongside
- Official site
- tennesseetheatre.com
- Next festival here
- Big Ears Festival, Expected April 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- Most balcony seats are reached by stairs with no handrails; only the accessible balcony seats have an elevator and ramps.
- Backpacks and oversized bags are prohibited and nothing can be checked or held for you, so bring a small or clear bag.
- Everyone needs a ticket regardless of age, including a baby on your lap.
- The daytime box office is around the corner at 224 Clinch Avenue, not at the Gay Street doors, which open one hour before showtime.
- Smokers can step out onto Gay Street and re-enter only with their ticket stub; smoking is banned on Clinch Avenue and by the stage door.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Free downtown garages after 6pm and at weekends · Big Ears shuttle stops at or near every venue · Step-free entrance and elevator; balcony stairs.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a seated show in a restored 1928 movie palace with a step-free entrance and elevator.
- You need sensory support: sensory bags, a quiet zone and free assisted listening are on hand.
- You are at Big Ears and hold a Premier or VIP pass, which gives priority entry here.
Think twice if
- Your seats are in the non-accessible balcony and stairs without handrails are a problem.
- You need to bring a backpack or large bag; they are prohibited and cannot be checked.
- You want to come and go during the show: re-entry is only for smokers on Gay Street with a ticket stub.
- You are planning to camp on site: we don't yet have confirmed information about camping here.
Getting there and parking
The theatre is at 604 South Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. From I-40 in either direction, take the James White Parkway exit to Summit Hill Drive, turn right onto Summit Hill Drive and left onto Gay Street at the third traffic light. There is a drop-off area in front of the theatre, reached northbound on Gay Street.
The theatre runs no parking of its own, but more than 10 garages and surface lots downtown are free after 6pm on weekdays and all day at weekends, including the Locust Street, Market Square, Langley and Dwight Kessel garages; First Tennessee Plaza and Riverview Tower are paid. Garages and lots have accessible spaces for vehicles with the proper tag or plate.
The daytime box office at 224 Clinch Avenue, around the corner from the main entrance with no steps, is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm, and the Gay Street box office opens one hour before showtime. Arrive at least half an hour early; some symphony and Broadway performances seat latecomers only at set intervals.
Festival-specific · Big Ears FestivalAll festival venues are within easy walking distance of each other downtown, a dedicated festival shuttle stops at or near every venue, bike parking is available at or near all venues, and Uber and Lyft serve the city. Big Ears runs on wristband passes rather than single-show tickets, and the Tennessee Theatre is one of the venues where Premier pass holders get priority access; when a venue fills it goes one in, one out with VIP, then Premier, then General Admission entry.
Accessibility
The theatre has a street-level entrance with no steps and an elevator to the auditorium and restrooms, with another elevator linking the orchestra level to the mezzanine and lower lounge. Wheelchair seating is in the orchestra and balcony, aisle seats with hinged armrests let you transfer from a wheelchair, a courtesy wheelchair is available, all restrooms are wheelchair accessible and there is a single restroom at Aisle 1 on the orchestra level. Ushers take wheelchairs, scooters and walkers to the lobby during the show.
Assisted listening devices are free for most performances with no reservation, held against a form of ID. Sign-interpreted performances can be arranged with two weeks' notice, Sunday Broadway matinees are always sign-interpreted and Saturday evening Broadway shows include audio description. Service animals trained for a health-related task are allowed; emotional support animals are not.
Apart from the accessible balcony seats reached by elevator and ramps, all other balcony seating requires climbing stairs and there are no handrails. Wheelchairs taller than 49 inches or wider than 3 feet 10 inches cannot use the front-row accessible spaces.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (tennesseetheatre.com).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at the Tennessee Theatre. The venue's own pages are the place to check: tennesseetheatre.com.
Food, water and what you can bring
Food and drinks bought inside can go into the auditorium for all events unless the artist asks otherwise, and the 612 S. Gay Street expansion adds the Osborne Lounge at balcony level with more restrooms and concessions. Outside food and beverages are prohibited. Accessible water fountains are on the Lower Lounge level.
Backpacks and oversized bags of any kind are prohibited, clear bags speed up entry, and every bag is inspected; medical and diaper bags are allowed with extra screening. Weapons, smoking materials including vapes, and outside food and drink are banned, and nothing can be checked or held by staff.
Sound and sensory
In partnership with KultureCity the theatre offers sensory bags with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys and communication cards from the box office, a designated Quiet Zone in the lower lobby, and the KultureCity app. Assisted listening devices also serve anyone sensitive to the sound around them.
Camera and recording rules follow each artist, so call 865.684.1200 within two weeks of the event to check.
Quick answers
Where do I park for the Tennessee Theatre?
In one of the more than 10 downtown garages and surface lots, which are free after 6pm on weekdays and all day at weekends; Locust Street, Market Square, Langley and Dwight Kessel garages are nearby, and First Tennessee Plaza and Riverview Tower are paid.
Is the Tennessee Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance is at street level with no steps, an elevator serves the auditorium and restrooms, wheelchair and transfer seats are in the orchestra and balcony, and all restrooms are accessible. Most non-accessible balcony seats still require stairs with no handrails.
What is the bag policy at the Tennessee Theatre?
Backpacks and oversized bags are prohibited and every bag is inspected. Clear bags speed up entry, medical and diaper bags are allowed with extra screening, and staff cannot hold anything for you.
Can I take food and drink into the Tennessee Theatre auditorium?
Yes, if you bought it inside. Food and drinks are allowed in the auditorium for all events unless the artist asks otherwise; outside food and beverages are prohibited.
Does the Tennessee Theatre offer sensory support?
Yes. Sensory bags with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys and communication cards are at the box office, there is a Quiet Zone in the lower lobby, and free assisted listening devices are available for most performances.
Do children need a ticket at the Tennessee Theatre?
Yes. Everyone needs a ticket regardless of age, including lap children, and some concerts are 18 and over.
How do I get between Big Ears venues and the Tennessee Theatre?
On foot: all Big Ears venues are within easy walking distance downtown. The festival also runs a dedicated shuttle stopping at or near every venue, bike parking is at or near all venues, and Uber and Lyft cover the city.
Can I leave the Tennessee Theatre and come back in?
Only to smoke on Gay Street, and only if you keep your ticket stub. Smoking is not allowed on Clinch Avenue or outside the stage door.
A little history
The Tennessee Theatre opened on October 1, 1928 as a movie palace hailed as the South's most beautiful theatre, designed by Chicago architects Graven and Mayger with a Spanish-Moorish interior of Czechoslovakian crystal chandeliers, Italian terrazzo floors and Asian-influenced carpets. It reopened on January 15, 2005 after a $25.5 million restoration, is honoured as the Official State Theatre of Tennessee, and in May 2026 opened the 612 S. Gay Street expansion next door in the old Mechanics' Bank Building, once home to radio station WROL.
The Tennessee Theatre at 604 S. Gay Street is one of the festival's downtown venues and one of the five with priority access for Premier pass holders.