Apollo Theater
Theater · New York, New York
The 125th Street theatre that has been the centre of Black American popular music since it opened its doors to Black audiences and performers in 1934 — Ella Fitzgerald won its Amateur Night at seventeen in 1934, and Billie Holiday, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill all played it. ⚠ THE HISTORIC THEATER HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR A $65 MILLION RENOVATION SINCE JUNE 2025 — READ THE TIPS.
253 West 125th Street, New York, New York, 10027, United States
⚠⚠ CHECK WHAT IS OPEN BEFORE TRAVELLING. THE HISTORIC THEATER at 253 West 125th Street has been CLOSED SINCE 30 JUNE 2025 for a $65 million renovation, with reopening given variously as SUMMER 2026, LATE 2026 and 2026 — that window is now and I could not confirm it. ⚠ THE INSTITUTION IS OPERATING REGARDLESS: the APOLLO STAGES AT THE VICTORIA THEATER, 233 West 125th Street, third floor, opened in 2024 and is running programming, and the APOLLO EXPERIENCE TOUR led by Billy "Mr. Apollo" Mitchell is running and MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE — all sales final, no refunds. The Walk of Fame outside is free at all hours. ⚠ Confirm on apollotheater.org/renovation.