The Guide to Outdoor Music in Los Angeles

The Hollywood Bowl is the largest natural amphitheater in the United States and is renowned as one of the world's premier outdoor cultural venues. The Bowl hosts the greatest artists from all genres of music, with the acclaimed LA Phil at its core. Hear classical music on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer and get your tickets early for perennial favorites like the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, John Williams: Maestro of the Movies and the Sound of Music Sing-A-Long.

Throughout the year, the Hollywood Bowl hosts fantastic "Lease Events" (non-LA Phil-produced events). The 2026 concert calendar includes Japanese duo Yoasobi (August 16), Muse with Portugal, the Man and Temper Trap (August 31) and more. 

Located at Exposition Park, BMO Stadium is the home of MLS's LAFC and Angel City FC of NWSL. Easily accessed from the Metro E Line, BMO Stadium is LA's first new open-air stadium since Dodger Stadium opened in 1962.

Upcoming concerts include Belicofest (July 12), Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charlotte (August 20) and Carin León (September 20).

The Music Center's popular Dance DTLA series returns for six select Friday nights this summer (June 26 - August 14) with free lessons and dancing under the stars!

Taking place from 7pm to 11pm on Jerry Moss Plaza, Dance DTLA features top local DJs and bands playing live while the crowd learns new moves - Bollywood, Afrobeats, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton and Disco. Admission is free and the events are open to all ages. 

Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, The Ford is second to none when it comes to sheer beauty and intimacy - no one at the 1,200-seat amphitheater is more than 96 feet from the stage.

Upcoming highlights of the 2026 season include: John Beasly's Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100 (July 19), Boleros de Noche (August 1), Judy Collins (August 7), Ani DiFranco (August 12), Brandon Flowers (September 4), Iron & Wine (October 17 - 18) and more. 

Connecting The Music Center and City Hall, the 12-acre Gloria Molina Grand Park hosts some of LA's most popular events, including the annual Día de los Muertos and New Year's Eve festivities.

Each summer, Grand Park celebrates LA's vital contributions to the global House music culture with Sunday Sessions, a free dance party featuring numerous DJs on the Performance Lawn. The 2026 Sunday Sessions are scheduled for July 19 and August 16. 

Founded in 1986, Grand Performances presents music, dance, theater and more at California Plaza with a mission to "inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts."

Free seating is open and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserved seats in the VIP Balcony are available to Grand Performances members.

Guests are invited to pack a picnic, or dine-in / order to-go from the nearby Grand Central Market. The 2026 season includes tributes to Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers and Ritchie Valens, as well as live performances from Ethio Cali, Son Rompe Pera and more. 

Opened in 1929, the historic Greek Theatre is one of LA’s premier outdoor music venues. Located inside Griffith Park, the 5,900-seat venue offers an intimate concert experience with state-of-the-art acoustics, excellent sight lines, and a picturesque setting.

The Greek's 2026 season includes: Matt Rife (July 11 - 13), Howard Jones (July 23), Death Cab for Cutie (August 2 - 3), Goose (August 14), Liz Phair and Sleater Kinney (September 8), Sofi Tukker (September 19) and more. 

One of the museum’s most popular offerings, Jazz at LACMA offers free, Friday night concerts from May through November. Previous concerts have featured legends such as Wayne Shorter, The Yellowjackets, Quincy Jones All Star Orchestra with John Clayton, Arturo Sandoval, Jeff Lorber, Billy Childs, Tierney Sutton, Ernie Watts, and many more.

Jazz at LACMA takes place every Friday from 6pm - 8pm at the Smidt Welcome Plaza. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For the full schedule and info about the musicians, visit the LACMA website.

Now in its 19th season, JazzPOP at the Hammer Museum invites luminaries of West Coast jazz and improvised music for Thursday night concerts in the museum's courtyard in August. This year's lineup includes Kasey Knudsen Sextet (August 6), Malachi Whitson Quartet (August 13) and Machado Mijiga Trio (August 20). 

Since 2007, hundreds of thousands of Angelenos have enjoyed free live music at MACLA (formerly known as Levitt Pavilion) in MacArthur Park. 

The concerts are family-friendly and leashed pets are welcome! The 2026 season includes nights dedicated to hip-hop, jazz, punk and more. 

The Getty Center's annual outdoor summer series, Off the 405 features live music and DJ performances. 

All performances take place in the Museum Courtyard, with a cash bar offering beer, cocktails, and bites. Arrive early to enjoy the Getty Center’s spectacular views and explore the world-class art collection and exhibits. 

The first indoor-outdoor stadium to be constructed, SoFi Stadium is the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. The state-of-the-art stadium hosted Super Bowl LVI, the College Football Championship Game in 2023 and FIFA World Cup in 2026. It will also host Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games in 2028.

This summer, look out for concerts from Ed Sheeran (August 8), Karol G (August 14 - 16) and BTS (September 1 - 6). 

Now in its 28th season, Sunset Concerts at the Skirball Cultural Center welcomes the whole family and friends to sing and dance to an eclectic lineup of musicians in the picturesque hillside courtyard. The 2026 season includes concerts from Tortoise (July 30), Annie and the Caldwells (August 6) and others.