Ravinia Festival seating plan 2027. Which seat suits you?
Can you see the stage from the lawn at Ravinia? Mostly not directly, as Ravinia itself says not every lawn spot has a view of the stage or a screen. A big screen faces the South Lawn, a second one is added on the North Lawn on select nights, and the Reserved Lawn right outside the pavilion has a premium view of the screen.
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the organiser's own information.
Location: Rows A to U sit right in front of the stage in three blocks, one in the centre and one on each side.
Rows: A bis U (einbuchstabig), Mitte bis etwa 28 Plätze je Reihe
Seat: Cushioned folding seats, wider since the 2025 rebuild.
View: You see the orchestra directly, no screen needed. Ravinia publishes no seat-by-seat view information.
Entrance: Tore 1 und 7 vorne seitlich, laut Saalplan
Tip: The centre block of rows A to U is the place to hear the orchestra most directly.
Location: The double-letter rows AA to NN form the rear ring of the pavilion, behind the boxes and out to the open back edge.
Rows: AA bis NN, Plätze bis etwa 48 je Reihe
Seat: Cushioned folding seats.
View: You are still under the roof but much further from the stage. Ravinia gives no view details for these rows.
Entrance: Tore 2 bis 6 an der Rückseite, laut Saalplan
Tip: If you want a roof overhead without paying for the front, the rear rows are the usual way in.
Location: Boxes are small partitioned groups of chairs. Boxes 101 to 113 curve behind row U, and Boxes 201 to 219 form a second ring further back and to the sides.
Rows: Box 101–113 und 201–219, je etwa 4 bis 8 Sessel
Seat: Individual chairs instead of fixed rows.
View: A critic who sat in a central box at the 2026 opening praised the clarity and depth of the sound. There is no official view information.
Tip: A box suits a small group that wants to sit together.
Location: At the far outer edge on both sides, short benches in rows A to J each hold four people.
Rows: A bis J, je 4 Plätze
Seat: A bench, not a cushioned seat.
View: The benches sit at the very edge, so you look at the stage from a sharp angle. Ravinia does not describe the view.
Tip: Bring a cushion for a long evening on the bench.
Location: Raised Platforms 1, 2 and 3 on both sides, plus wheelchair spaces in the centre of row A, beside the boxes and in the rear corners.
Rows: Platform 1–3 je Seite, weitere Plätze laut Plan
Seat: Stay in your wheelchair or transfer to a seat.
View: The platforms are raised so you can still see when people in front stand up.
Entrance: Barrierefreier Eingang vorne rechts neben Tor 7, laut Saalplan
Tip: Book these spaces when you buy tickets, online, by phone or in person.
Location: Right outside the pavilion, near the big video screen, in fixed blocks for groups of 2, 4 or 6.
Rows: Blöcke für 2, 4 oder 6 Personen
Seat: Your own blanket or chairs, or rented ones.
View: Ravinia promises every block a premium view of the large video screen; the orchestra itself you follow on screen.
Tip: The safe choice if you don't want to arrive early to claim a good spot.
Location: Several large lawn areas spread through the park, south and north of the pavilion; the official lawn map shows them.
Rows: keine, freie Platzwahl
Seat: Bring a blanket, chairs and table, or rent them on site.
View: Ravinia says not every spot on the lawn has a direct view of the stage or a screen. A permanent screen faces the South Lawn, and on select nights a second one goes up on the North Lawn. Sound reaches the whole lawn through a distributed speaker system.
Tip: Arrive early and pick a spot facing the South Lawn screen if you want to see the orchestra.
The official chart marks several structural pillars: at the outer end of row G on both sides, on Platform 1, between seats 30 and 31 of row LL in the outer rear blocks, at the edge of row MM and in the rear boxes. The columns were kept in the rebuild. Ravinia does not say whether they block views, so check whether your seat is next to a pillar dot on the plan.
Not every lawn spot has a view of the stage or a screen, according to Ravinia itself.
The Hunter Pavilion had a roughly 70-million-dollar gut renovation in 2025 and reopened in July 2026. Threshold Acoustics designed a new shell; press reports describe a more even sound with fewer hot and cold spots. A distributed loudspeaker system carries the music across the lawn while limiting spill into the neighbourhood.
The Hunter Pavilion has wheelchair and scooter locations where you can stay in your chair or transfer. Book them online, by phone or in person. The lawn is reached by paved paths. Free infrared listening headsets work in all venues but not on the lawn; pick them up at the main box office by the west entrance. Accessible parking is south of the Tyler (West) Gate off St. Johns Avenue, about 0.2 miles from the pavilion.
Frequently asked questions about Ravinia Festival
Can you see the stage from the lawn at Ravinia?
Mostly not directly, as Ravinia itself says not every lawn spot has a view of the stage or a screen. A big screen faces the South Lawn, a second one is added on the North Lawn on select nights, and the Reserved Lawn right outside the pavilion has a premium view of the screen.
Is a pavilion seat at Ravinia worth it?
Yes, if the music matters more to you than the picnic: only in the pavilion do you see the orchestra directly, hear it unamplified and sit under a roof. Since the 2025 rebuild the seats are wider and, according to the press, the sound is more even.
Can you bring food and wine to Ravinia?
Yes, you can bring your own picnic to the lawn, and guests 21 and over may bring wine. In the pavilion, no food is allowed at your seat and drinks must be in plastic containers of 24 oz or less.
What happens at Ravinia if it rains?
The concert goes ahead and tickets are not refunded. The pavilion is covered, but on the lawn you need rain gear because tents and large umbrellas are banned.
Do kids need a ticket at Ravinia?
Yes, every guest needs a ticket regardless of age, even a free one. Select classical concerts offer free or reduced admission for under-15s.