Ryman Auditorium, downtown Nashville

Ryman Auditorium: pews, bags, parking and tours

Oak pews from the 1890s, no parking lot of its own, a strict oversized-bag rule and daytime tours from $25. What to know before a show.

By the Nashville Show Guide editors · Facts checked Sep 25, 2026 against the venues' own pages · Event listings refresh daily

On this page

You sit on a church pew. The Ryman Auditorium opened in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, and its oak pews date from 1895 on the main floor and 1897 in the balcony. The Grand Ole Opry broadcast from this room from 1943 to 1974. This guide covers seats, security, parking, tours and what's on.

Main floor or balcony

The Ryman's seating chart lists 1,298 seats on the main floor and 1,064 in the balcony. All 250 original pews were removed and restored during the 1994 renovation. The main entrance is on the Fourth Avenue side.

Across the 101 Ryman dates on sale, the cheapest resale seat runs from $17 to $913, with a typical show around $93. Each date's page shows its own price.

Security and bags

Every guest goes through security screening. The Ryman refuses oversized bags and backpacks, cans, bottles, outside food and drink, cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks, laptops and tablets, and posters or signs. It publishes no bag size, so carry the smallest bag you can. There is no coat check.

Parking

The Ryman has no public parking lot. The closest garage is Fifth + Broadway at 179 Rep. John Lewis Way N, directly across the street, where you pay on entry. Metropolis runs drive-in, drive-out parking nearby as well. Lyft is the venue's rideshare partner.

Tickets and refunds

Ryman tickets are non-refundable and can't be exchanged. The venue warns that tickets from unauthorized sources may be stolen or counterfeit and are void if so, and ticket transfers through AXS have exceptions when an artist requests them. Check the Ryman's own box office first. TicketNetwork is a resale marketplace, not an authorized Ryman seller: its guarantee promises tickets valid for entry and a refund if they aren't, but a refund means missing the show.

Daytime tours

The building is open for tours from 9 AM to 4 PM every day. A self-guided tour costs $25 plus tax, the guided backstage tour $42.52 plus tax, and the VIP tour $62.02 plus tax.

What's on

EventDateLowest listingBuy
Josh JohnsonComedyFri Sep 257:00 PMfrom $106Tickets
Josh JohnsonComedySat Sep 266:30 PM · 9:30 PMfrom $65Tickets
Starbomb & Scoochie BoochiePop / RockSun Sep 278:00 PMfrom $89Tickets
Geese - BandPop / RockMon Sep 288:00 PMfrom $70Tickets
Geese - BandPop / RockTue Sep 298:00 PMfrom $61Tickets
Indigo Girls & Linda PerryPop / RockWed Sep 307:00 PMfrom $47Tickets
Ryan BeattyPop / RockThu Oct 18:00 PMfrom $17Tickets
Brad WilliamsComedyFri Oct 27:30 PMfrom $63Tickets
Undertale Live: The Determination SymphonySun Oct 48:00 PMfrom $285Tickets
Elevation WorshipReligiousMon Oct 56:30 PMfrom $117Tickets
Audrey HobertPop / RockTue Oct 68:00 PMfrom $86Tickets
CaampCountry / FolkWed Oct 77:30 PMfrom $227Tickets

Full list: Ryman Auditorium schedule. The Opry itself plays the Opry House most of the year.

Questions people ask

Official sources

Ticket links go to TicketNetwork, a resale marketplace, through an affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Resale prices can be above or below face value. Prices shown are the lowest listings in the feed on Sep 25, 2026 and change constantly; the seller's checkout shows the final total. How we make money.