The Best Amphitheaters in Connecticut

Updated June 2026 · 6 min read

In summer, CT music moves outside. Here are the best rooms. We go from the biggest shed to the prettiest free lawn.

The Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford (about 30,000)

The biggest by far. The Meadows Music Theatre was long called the Xfinity Theatre. It holds up to about 30,000. That splits between roofed seats and a huge lawn. The biggest summer tours play here. Lawn tickets are the classic move.

Best for: the biggest tours of the summer.

The Westville Music Bowl, New Haven (3,500 to 9,700)

This one was a tennis stadium until 2021. Now the Westville Music Bowl holds 3,500 to 9,700. It books sharp indie, jam, and Americana acts, now with The Bowery Presents. Big enough for stars. Small enough to feel special.

Best for: indie and jam stars outdoors.

Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, Bridgeport (about 5,700)

The most scenic of the bunch. The Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater sits right on the harbor. It has a partial roof. It holds about 5,700. You get a water view. The train stops close by.

Best for: a scenic, mid-size summer night by the water.

Ives Concert Park, Danbury (about 5,500)

The prettiest setting. Ives Concert Park is an outdoor venue on 40 wooded acres. It sits by a pond on the Western Connecticut State University campus. It is named for composer Charles Ives. It holds about 5,500. It hosts concerts, an orchestra series, and festivals.

Best for: outdoor shows in a wooded park, kids welcome.

Best free: the Levitt Pavilion, Westport

Want free outdoor music? Nothing beats the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Westport. It runs a long free summer series by the Saugatuck River. See our free concerts guide for town-green shows across CT.

Best for: free summer nights with a picnic.

Best amphitheaters FAQ