Concert venue, TV soundstage and even trade union headquarters, New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom has seen it all since it opened in 1906. Oscar Hammerstein I built it as the home for his Manhattan Opera Company, but since 1910 it has played a variety of roles (with multiple owners). The theater was renamed in honor of Hammerstein in 1997, and today it’s part of the Manhattan Center, a major destination for corporate and private events in the heart of Midtown. Here are 20 of its greatest moments.
CFDA Awards. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
CFDA Awards (2016 and 2017)
The Council of Fashion Designers of America has presented annual awards to recognize emerging designers and industry leaders since 1981. In 2016 the Hammerstein Ballroom served as the venue for a lavish ceremony that featured winners Beyoncé (fashion icon award), Marc Jacobs (womenswear designer of the year) and Thom Browne (menswear designer of the year). The ballroom hosted again in 2017, when Raf Simons won both the womenswear and menswear awards.
BravoCon. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
BravoCon (2019)
This three-day fan fest for reality television originated at the Hammerstein Ballroom in 2019. Dedicated to the wildly popular shows on the Bravo network, the convention was hosted by Andy Cohen (who recorded his Watch What Happens Live show here) and had panels and meet-and-greets with “Bravolebrities” from Vanderpump Rules, Top Chef, Shahs of Sunset, The Real Housewives franchises and many others. The whole event sold out, with approximately 10,000 fans attending.
Fendi’s First New York Fashion Week Show (2022)
Luxury goods came to the Hammerstein Ballroom in September 2022 when Rome-based Fendi celebrated the 25th anniversary of its iconic Baguette bag during New York Fashion Week. The show was a collaboration between the bag’s creator, Silvia Venturini Fendi; Fendi artistic director Kim Jones; NYC designer Marc Jacobs; jeweler Tiffany & Co.; and actor Sarah Jessica Parker, on whose show Sex and the City the bag achieved worldwide recognition. Linda Evangelista, the 1990s supermodel, even made a rare appearance on the catwalk.
Victoria’s Secret The Tour ’23 Launch. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
Victoria’s Secret The Tour ’23 Launch (2023)
After a four-year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned in September 2023, but this time, it was a documentary film entitled The Tour ’23, to be shown on Amazon Prime. The Hammerstein Ballroom hosted the launch party, a star-studded “pink carpet” event that featured a who’s who of the modeling world: Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid, Adriana Lima and Emily Ratajkowski were among the attendees, along with celebrities like tennis star Naomi Osaka and actor Brooke Shields.
Keep a Child Alive Black Ball (2006–2011 & 2013–2016)
Singer Alicia Keys and activist Leigh Blake Global founded Keep a Child Alive in 2003. The Hammerstein Ballroom hosted the nonprofit’s gala many times. The event supported the organization’s efforts to raise awareness and funds to eradicate AIDS in Africa and India, especially in children. High points included David Bowie’s final public concert in 2006, sets by Sade and Jay-Z in 2010, and performances by Keys, Chance the Rapper and A$AP Rocky at the final Black Ball in 2016.
Save the Children’s 100th Anniversary Gala. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
Save the Children’s 100th Anniversary Gala (2019)
Founded in the UK by Eglantyne Jebb in 1919, Save the Children held its centennial gala at the Hammerstein Ballroom. NBC news anchors Hoda Kotb and Willie Geist cohosted, with performances by country music group Little Big Town and plenty of big-name celebs in attendance, including actors Jennifer Garner and Zendaya. Singer Camila Cabello received the Voice Award, while fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger won the Humanitarian Award. Chef and humanitarian José Andrés created a special dessert for the 800 guests.
American Heart Association’s Red Dress Fashion Show (2017–2020)
This fashion show, held during New York Fashion Week in February, has raised awareness about heart disease in women since 2003. The Hammerstein Ballroom hosted the event four times, with the high-profile 2020 edition featuring performances by Meghan Trainor and Shania Twain, and celebs like Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton Rothschild and actor Heather Graham walking the runway.
Monday Night Raw (1993)
The very first Monday Night Raw was held at the Manhattan Center in 1993, airing live on the USA Network and initiating a new era for World Wrestling Entertainment. At that debut, pro wrestler Yokozuna bested Koko B. Ware, Shawn Michaels defended his title and fan favorites like the Undertaker took to the ring. The venue has hosted many pro wrestling shows since then, from Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s to the annual Ring of Honor from 2006 and 2014.
Jennifer Lopez (1999, 2005 and 2016)
New York City native, singer and movie star Jennifer Lopez has performed at the Hammerstein Ballroom several times. In 1999 she took part in WKTU’s Miracle on 34th Street concert with Britney Spears. In 2005 Hot 97’s Full Frontal Hip Hop fashion show and concert included JLo, Daddy Yankee, Kool Herc and many others. Lopez also gave a private concert for Telemundo advertising clients at the ballroom in 2016.
MCC Theater’s Miscast Gala (semi-regularly 2006–2026)
The Hammerstein Ballroom has hosted the annual MCC Theater Miscast Gala many times since its inception in 2000. The fun event—which raises money to produce new off-Broadway shows, support youth programs and help emerging playwrights—casts musical theater stars to sing songs from roles they would never traditionally play. The 2026 iteration saw Jane Krakowski, Leslie Odom Jr, Javier Muñoz, Lea Michele and many other stars take to the stage.
America’s Got Talent. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
America’s Got Talent Auditions (2008–2015)
The Hammerstein Ballroom hosted America’s Got Talent auditions beginning with season 3 (2008) and culminating with season 10 (in 2015), when the judging panel was made up of Howard Stern, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B. The talent show, created by Simon Cowell, premiered on NBC in 2006 and wrapped up its 21st season in September 2026.
Red Bull BC One Breakdancing Championship. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
Red Bull BC One Breakdancing Championship (2009 and 2022)
Established in 2004, Red Bull BC One has become the premier global annual breakdancing competition. Hip-hop artist KRS-One was MC at the first championship held at the Hammerstein Ballroom in 2009, when Algerian French B-boy Lilou emerged victorious. At the sold-out 2022 event, which aired on ESPN+, 16 B-boys and 16 B-girls competed; gravity-defying Dutch B-girl India and American B-boy Victor were crowned champions.
Tim McGraw (2014)
Country music megastar Tim McGraw performed a special concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom promoting the release of his album Sundown Heaven Town in 2014. The concert was live streamed, with director Bennett Miller using some of the footage for McGraw’s “Shotgun Rider” video, the third single released from the album.
NBA All-Star Weekend. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
NBA All-Star Weekend (2015)
In 2015 the NBA’s All-Star Weekend came to New York for the first time since 1998. The three-day extravaganza kicked off with the celebrity-packed American Express All-Star Live at the Hammerstein Ballroom, including a performance by Fall Out Boy and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal in the DJ booth. The ballroom also held the basketball league’s first-ever fashion show, produced by LeBron James and hosted by Carrie Keagan and Kevin Hart.
Marc Jacobs Runway Show. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
Marc Jacobs Fashion Show (2016)
The designer famously transformed the Hammerstein Ballroom into a rave–meets–Blade Runner wonderland, with hundreds of individual lights hanging from the ceiling, for his New York Fashion Week show in September 2016. Top models Adriana Lima, Irina Shayk, Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and Gigi and Bella Hadid walked the runway, though Jacobs’ use of hand-dyed wool dreadlocks to embellish some of the looks created controversy at the time.
Amazon Prime Day Concert with Taylor Swift (2019)
This concert to celebrate Amazon’s Prime Day in 2019 was live streamed on Prime Video from the Hammerstein Ballroom. Cohosted by actor Jane Lynch and YouTuber Tyler Oakley, Dua Lipa, SZA and Becky G each had a set, building up to a memorable performance from Taylor Swift. There have been other live shows since Prime Day debuted in 2015 but nothing as big as this.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Premiere. Photo: Mark Doyle, Courtesy of Manhattan Center
House of the Dragon Season 2 Premiere (2024)
The cast of HBO’s Game of Thrones spin-off celebrated its season 2 premiere at the Hammerstein Ballroom in 2024, with stars Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Steve Toussaint and Olivia Cooke all in attendance. The memorable after-party featured a massive red-leafed tree (like the weirwood depicted in the series), a replica of the Iron Throne itself, plus New York titans John’s of Bleecker Street and Roberta’s providing pizza.
iHeart Media’s Jingle Ball All Access Lounge (2009–present)
New York City radio station Z100’s most popular event, the Jingle Ball debuted in 1995 in New Jersey’s Meadowlands before moving the next year to Madison Square Garden, where it became one of the seminal stages for artists breaking into the mainstream. As excitement for the show grew, the Jingle Ball All Access Lounge was created as a free fan event the afternoon before the big concert, with meet-and-greets, giveaways and live music. Since 2009 the All Access Lounge has been held at the Hammerstein Ballroom. That year it featured then up-and-comers Justin Beiber and Ke$ha. Other notable acts have included Charlie XCX in 2014, Tinashe in 2015 and Sabrina Carpenter in 2016. This year’s All Access Lounge is on December 12, and you can line up early or try for priority passes through 1iota.
Pirelli Calendar Launch (2017)
What began in 1964 as a promotion that the Italian Pirelli tire company could send to high-profile clients has become a prestigious publication in the world of art and photography. Over the years, actors, models and musicians have been featured in the exclusive calendar, and the 2018 edition was heralded at a reveal party at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The calendar had an Alice in Wonderland theme with characters portrayed by an all-Black cast, including Whoopi Goldberg, Lupita Nyong’o and RuPaul, who was the Queen of Hearts. The ballroom was transformed into the story’s surreal world, complete with a costumed hare greeting guests at the entrance and a mind-bending checkered floor.
Hozier (2019)
Irish singer-songwriter Hozier settled into the Hammerstein Ballroom for a five-night residency between November 21 and November 26, 2019, in support of his second studio album, Wasteland, Baby! The audience present at the penultimate night of the residency were treated to an unreleased song called “The Wages,” which he also performed on the following night, marking the end of the US leg of his tour.
