The Grand Ole Opry isn't a theater or a museum: it's a radio show that began in 1925 and has never stopped broadcasting, performed live before an audience several nights a week in Nashville. It's the stage that made country music what it is, and getting invited onto it is still every country singer's dream. For a visitor, it means seeing eight or ten different artists in one night, legends and new voices alike, each with two or three songs. Here's what the Opry is, how to buy Grand Ole Opry tickets, the backstage tours and how to get there, with prices checked on November 11, 2026.
Before you book
- Where. The Grand Ole Opry House, 600 Opry Mills Drive, about 16 km (10 miles) from downtown Nashville. Some winter shows move to the Ryman Auditorium downtown.
- Show length. About two hours with a 15-minute intermission.
- Who's performing. It changes every night and is announced on each show's page, sometimes just days ahead.
- Backstage tours. From $46.65 for the daytime tour, taxes included.
- Capacity. 4,400 seats.
What the Grand Ole Opry is, plainly explained
In 1925 a Nashville radio station, WSM, began broadcasting a Saturday-night program of fiddle and banjo music. Over the years it became the longest-running radio broadcast in US history and the center of the country music industry. For three decades, from 1943 to 1974, it was staged at the Ryman Auditorium, a former church downtown. In 1974 it moved to its current home, the purpose-built Opry House on the edge of the city.
What makes the Opry different is the format. You don't go to one artist's concert: you go to a show with several, introduced by an announcer, with breaks for sponsor messages, as if you were inside the radio. There are established stars who are Opry members, an honor extended by invitation (Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill and Alan Jackson are among them), and young artists making their debut that night.
The detail fans look for is the wooden circle at the center of the stage: a piece of the Ryman's floor that moved to the Opry House in 1974. Artists stand on it to sing, and on the tours you can step on it.
How to buy tickets, and what to expect on price
Tickets are sold at opry.com and at the box office, with prices that vary by date, lineup and seat. Nights with big names sell out fast. You can buy up to 14 tickets at a time.
A few practical tips:
- Don't buy for the lineup if you're traveling far. It's filled in as it goes and sometimes changes. Go for the experience, not one particular artist.
- Every seat has a good view, according to the theater, which is fan-shaped. Saving on location is reasonable.
- Check the full calendar. Besides weekends there are weeknight shows depending on the season, and they tend to have more availability.
- If you're traveling over the holidays, see whether the show is at the Ryman: watching it in that historic hall is a different experience.
A note for 2025 and 2026: the Opry has celebrated its centennial with special shows under the "Opry 100" banner, which may carry higher prices.
The backstage tours
If you can't make an evening show, or want to see how it works behind the scenes, the Opry offers four guided tours:
| Tour | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime | 50 minutes | $46.65 |
| VIP | 90 minutes | $88.34 |
| Post-Show | 60 minutes | $45, with a show ticket |
| Women of Country | 45 minutes | $59.81 |
The daytime tour takes you through the dressing rooms and hallways lined with historic photos and, schedule permitting, onto the stage and the wooden circle. The VIP tour, for groups of about six, adds the legends exhibit and mimosas with pastries. The Post-Show tour is the most special for concertgoers: you head backstage as the audience files out.
How to get to the Opry from downtown Nashville
The Opry House is east of the city, next to the huge Gaylord Opryland hotel and the Opry Mills mall. There's no convenient public transit at night, so the real options are three:
- Uber or Lyft. About 15 to 20 minutes from Broadway. After the show demand spikes with surge pricing; request your ride while walking toward Opry Mills, not at the door.
- Your own car. Parking is large and shared with the mall.
- Tours with transport. Some agencies sell admission with a round trip from downtown; compare against two Ubers.
If you arrive early, you can eat at Opry Mills or wander the Gaylord Opryland, a hotel with indoor gardens the size of several city blocks, which fills with Christmas lights in December. The box office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with hours extended to 7:30 p.m. on show days.
Opry, Ryman or Bluebird: choosing your music night
Nashville has so many music venues that the Opry competes with others. The Ryman Auditorium is the historic hall downtown, with concerts of all kinds and daytime tours. The Bluebird Cafe is a 90-seat room where songwriters play their songs in the round, with tickets that are very hard to get. And the honky-tonks on Broadway have free live music from noon to the small hours.
If it's your first time and you only have one night to spend, the Opry is the most complete choice: you see many artists, you understand country music's history and you're assured a good show.
When to go
The Opry runs year-round, so Nashville sets the timing more than the theater does. Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons for walking Broadway and downtown. In December the Gaylord Opryland is full of Christmas lights and some Opry shows move to the Ryman, which for many is the best combination of the year. Summer is hot and humid, with the city full of bachelorette parties, and hotels cost more on weekends.
Tips to enjoy it
Arrive 45 minutes early to get through security and find your seat without rushing. There's no dress code: you'll see everything from jeans and boots to party dresses, and the Opry jokes that the only rule is to wear something. Bring a light jacket: the hall tends to be cool from the air conditioning, even in midsummer. And if it's your birthday or anniversary, people celebrate; the atmosphere is a family party, not a rock concert.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Grand Ole Opry?
A country music radio show broadcast live since 1925 and performed before an audience in Nashville. Several artists perform each night, from legends to newcomers.
How long is the Grand Ole Opry show?
About two hours, with a 15-minute intermission, according to the Opry.
How much is the Grand Ole Opry tour?
The daytime tour costs $46.65 with taxes; the VIP tour, $88.34; the post-show tour, $45 with a concert ticket.
Where is the Grand Ole Opry?
At the Opry House, 600 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, next to the Gaylord Opryland and about 16 km from downtown.
Is the Grand Ole Opry the same as the Ryman Auditorium?
No. The Ryman was the Opry's home from 1943 to 1974 and is now a concert hall; the Opry is staged at the Opry House, though some shows return to the Ryman.