Tickets for TV Shows in New York
Be part of live tapings in NYC
Being the greatest city in the world, New York is also home to a handful of popular TV shows. For you, that means you can watch a live taping in NYC during your trip. During your experience, you will not only get to watch the show but also take a peek behind the scenes of your favorite TV Show in New York and also talk to tv hosts like Jimmy Fallon, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert or John Oliver.
How to Get New York TV Show Tickets
Most TV shows in New York are located in Midtown Manhattan which makes them very convenient to get to. All NYC TV Show tickets listed are completely FREE! It can, however, be very tricky to claim them. Especially, if you are not a local and you’re only in New York for a few days, you want to make sure you know how to get tickets in advance! All you need to know is in our guide. Simply choose a show that you’re interested in and we provide you with all necessary information and the link to the respective TV show ticket lottery. That’s all you need – plus a little bit of luck!
Here are some general tips for the case you manage to obtain New York TV Show tickets:
- be on time or better, early
- bring a valid photo ID
- turn off your phone during the show
- do not bring large backpacks, shopping bags etc.
- do not bring any food or drinks
- dress business casual because remember, you might be on TV
The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon
How to get Jimmy Fallon tickets:
The Tonight Show is probably the most popular TV show in New York and taped on weeknights from Monday through Thursday. There are two different parts of The Tonight Show you can attend: The Tonight Show Monologue Rehearsal at 2:50 PM or The Tonight Show taping at 5 pm. The Tonight Show tickets at 5 pm go much quicker than the rehearsal tickets, so be sure to check the calendar early enough if you’d like to see the show. Otherwise, you still may have a chance to see the Monologue Rehearsal.
Jimmy Fallon tickets are released once a month during the first week of the month prior. To give you an example: If you’d like to see a show in June, you should check the calendar at the beginning of May. Check the calendar as soon as you can. You must create an account with 1iota, the ticket platform, in order to request Jimmy Fallon tickets. You can only request 4 tickets per person and if you have been to the show within the past six months, you won’t be selected.
Once you managed to request tickets to see Jimmy Fallon live, you’re automatically on the waitlist. It does not yet mean that you have guaranteed tickets. Only when you’re notified about two weeks prior to the event, your request has been approved and you will receive tickets. If you don’t receive an email, you, unfortunately, didn’t make it onto the show.
If you’ve received a notification, congratulations! Check-in for The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon begins at 3:15 pm and the taping typically starts around 5 pm. You can expect to spend about 3 hours there in total, 1 hour and 15 minutes of it being the show taping. Make sure to be on time. NYC TV Shows are typically overbooked to guarantee a full studio.
How to get to the Tonight Show:
To see The Tonight Show live head to 30 Rockefeller Center and use the 50 West 50th Street entrance. If you’re going by subway, use lines and get off at 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center.
Request free Jimmy Fallon Tickets
Saturday Night Live
How to get SNL tickets:
Getting Saturday Night Live Tickets is trickier than other NYC TV shows. The lottery window is only open during the month of August each year, in which you can apply for tickets for the following year. In order to receive free SNL tickets, you need to send an email to Snltickets@nbcuni.com and write why YOU want to be part of the taping. You will only be notified if you have been selected. In that case, you will receive two tickets for a random show the following year, meaning that you cannot choose a date. Therefore, this option is mostly for locals. However, if you’re from outside of the Greater New York City area, you always have a tiny chance that it may work out. If you hear nothing from SNL, you weren’t selected.
You may have a better chance of grabbing first-come first-served stand-by tickets for Saturday Night Live that are distributed each morning at 7 a.m. In reality, though, you are late if you arrive at 7 am. People line up as early as 3 am. To take a chance go to 30 Rockefeller Plaza (side of 48th Street) and try your luck there for day-off tickets. If you’re lucky, you’ll have two options: 8 pm rehearsal tickets or 11:30 pm live taping tickets. Remember that you can only get one ticket per person. Everybody who wants to attend the show must be present. Stand-by tickets do not guarantee admission and only become available if there are no-shows.
Whatever Saturday Night Live tickets you can snug, make sure to be at least one hour early!
Should you not have been successful in grabbing tickets, you can still get a sneak peek of the Saturday Night Live film set by taking the NBC Studio Tour!
How to get to Saturday Night Live:
You can see Saturday Night Live at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Use the entrance on 49th Street between 5th and 6th Ave. Subway lines can get you to 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center, which is just around the corner of the studio.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
How to get John Oliver tickets:
Last Week Tonight tickets are released on the official website on Tuesdays at 2 pm one month prior to any given taping. All you need to do to enter the lottery is to submit your information. The form requires you fill in all spaces, including zip code and telephone number. Don’t worry if you’re from outside the United States, though, you can still request John Oliver tickets by simply entering zeros in place of the zip code (5 zeros) and telephone number (9 zeros).
Another thing worth mentioning is that those who have already attended the show during the last four (!) seasons cannot enter the lottery again. That’s because the demand to see John Oliver live is just too high and the show wants to give more people the chance to be part of the live taping. These are the only Last Week Tonight tickets available, meaning that there are no stand-by tickets available. The only other option you’d have to grab Last Week Tonight tickets is to head there on Sundays before the show, from 5:30 pm onwards.
Should your request be successful one way or the other, know that Last Week Tonight tapings take place on Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm. Always arrive at least 40 minutes prior to the start of the show.
How to get to Last Week Tonight:
The CBS Broadcast Center at 530 West 57th Street (between 10th and 11th Avenue). The closest subway station, 59 St – Columbus Circle, is about 10 minutes away. Lines will take you to there.
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The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
How to get Trevor Noah tickets:
Daily Show Tickets are released one and a half months in advance on ShowClix. You can request tickets for the taping on weeknights from Monday through Thursday for up to 4 tickets per person. Please note that there are two different types of The Daily Show tickets, not including VIP tickets:
1) General Guaranteed:
This type of Daily Show ticket guarantees your entry, as long as you are on time. Check-in starts at 4 pm and arriving after 5 pm will automatically void your tickets. Your entire party must be present at the check-in, or else you won’t get inside. Should you still be late for some reason, you can enter the General Not Guaranteed Line. However, as the name indicates, your spot will no longer be guaranteed and you need to cross your fingers to get in.
2) General Not Guaranteed:
General Not Guaranteed Daily Show tickets are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis starting from 5 pm around the corner at 52nd St. You should get there way before 5 pm if you want to attend the show, as the line already starts forming around 3 pm.
Please note that all shows are overbooked to ensure capacity, meaning there is never really a 100% guarantee for you to see the show. Expect to be at The Daily Show until between 7:30 and 8:30 pm. You must stay through the entire show and also take care of all needs, such as bathroom breaks, before the show. You can already use the restroom while waiting in line. All seats are assigned, so if you are very late and the last ones to enter the studio, you may not be seated next to your party members.
How to get to the Daily Show:
If you got hold of Daily Show tickets, head to 733 11th Ave. The line for General Guaranteed tickets forms along 11th Ave. If you have General Not Guaranteed tickets is right around the corner. The closest subway station is 50 Street Station. You get there by taking lines . From there it’ll take about a 10-minute walk to the Daily Show location.
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The Late Show Stephen Colbert
How to get Stephen Colbert tickets:
The Late Show tickets are limited to two tickets per person and are released about 2 months in advance. You are required to create an account with 1iota in order to request tickets or join the waitlist. You will be notified via email and also receive tickets via email if you were selected. According to their rules, you cannot request tickets should you have attended the show in the past 6 months. You can always try, but it probably won’t work!
The Late Show get taped on weeknights, mostly Monday through Wednesdays or Thursdays at 4:30 pm. No one is guaranteed entry, but if you obtained Stephen Colbert tickets and arrive early you are raising your chances.
How to get to The Late Show:
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is being taped at The Ed Sullivan Theater at 1695 Broadway. If you’re not already in the area, take the subway to 7 Avenue. The station is served by lines .
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Late Night with Seth Meyers
How to get Seth Meyers tickets
To join the Seth Meyers tickets waitlist, you need a 1iota account. Once you hit “join waitlist”, you are required to select how many tickets you’d like to request; you can get up to four. You will receive an email only if they are able to provide you with the requested tickets. If you don’t receive an email, it’s safe to assume that you won’t get tickets.
Late Night is filmed in New York on weeknights Monday through Thursday at 6:30 pm but check in already opens at 4:30 pm. As times may vary it’s always a good idea to doublecheck your confirmation email. You do not need to arrive earlier than the check-in time stated on your tickets. In total, you can expect to spend about 3 hours there. The Late Show typically ends before 7:45 pm.
Don’t give up hope yet, if you didn’t receive tickets via email. You can always try to get stand-by tickets to see Late Night with Seth Meyers live. Stand-by tickets become available the morning of the taping. They will be handed out at 9 am, meaning you should head to the line at 49th Street well before 9 am to increase your chances.
How to get to Late Night:
Use the 50 West 50th Street entrance of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The closest station can be reached by subway lines . Simply get off at
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The Today Show
How to get Today Show tickets:
You can see the Today Show live every weekday at 7 am. You do not even need any tickets, however, NBC asks you to RSVP in order to let them know that you are coming. It’ll help them speed up the check-in process. In order to secure a good spot near the stage and with it also a chance to be seen on TV, head to the Plaza well before 6:30 am.
The live stream will end at 9 am. The hosts then move inside and you can look through the windows of Studio 1A to continue watching. You have the best chances to see hosts if you place yourself near the 49th Street side of the plaza.
How to get to the Today Show:
To get to the Today Show, head to Studio 1A at NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center. You can easily walk there from anywhere in Midtown. Alternatively, you can hop onto the subway lines to 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center and you’ll be just around the corner.
RSVP to join the today show here
Good Morning America
How to get Good Morning America tickets:
Just like The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, you need a 1ota account to request Good Morning America tickets. The show is taped from 8 am to 10:30 and you should arrive no later than 7:15 am. You also have the chance to meet the anchors as well as celebrity guests.
How to get to Good Morning America:
Good Morning America (GMA) goes live at Broadway and 44th Street, across from New York’s Hard Rock Café. Due to its central location in Midtown Manhattan, it’s super easy to get to. If you’re not in walking distance, take subway line to Times Sq – 42 St for arriving at the closest station.
