This post will show you how to get free tickets for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, including how to obtain standby and rehearsal tickets.
Attending a TV show live taping is one of the top 10 free things to do in NYC.
- How to Order Tickets
- Rules of the Show
- Standby Tickets
- Tickets to the Rehearsal Show
- Other TV Shows in NYC
- Things to Do in NYC
TICKETS TO THE TONIGHT SHOW
The show tapes Monday-Friday. Tapings start at 5 p.m. and last until approximately 6:30 p.m.
To get free tickets, you will first need to register with 1iota, the website that handles many TV-taping ticket requests.
We recommend you do this in advance of the ticket release date by clicking on the ticketing page here: Tonight Show Member Sign-Up. (Info on the ticket release date is just below).
After signing up with 1iota, visit the show's website with instructions on how to request tickets.
You will be asked to choose the show date that you would like to book.
Then you will be placed in a waitlist queue. Tickets are generally processed a week or two before the show.
Note that you will only be allowed to request tickets for The Tonight Show once every 6 months.
When are tickets released?
Tickets are released a month at a time, with the release date announced on the first week of the previous month.
For example, the ticket release date for the month of March would be announced during the first week of February, and so on.
To stay up-to-date on ticket release date info, check with both The Tonight Show's ticketing Twitter account @FallonTix and this ticketing page during the first week of the month.
Where does the show tape?
The show is filmed at Rockefeller Center inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza (map), the building where the Top of the Rock observation deck is located.
The entrance to the show is on W. 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues between the stores Maison du Chocolat and Fao Schwarz.
Note that The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon begins taping at 5:00 pm.
Check-in will usually start at 3:15 pm and close promptly at 3:45 pm.
To check in on the day of the taping, you and your guests should arrive at 30 Rockefeller Plaza using the 50 W. 50th Street entrance (map).
Other rules of attendance:
- The person who is reserved must be present. They will check IDs to match names.
- No groups larger than four people may book.
- No bags larger than small purses are allowed.
- Absolutely no shopping bags, backpacks or luggage (Read our post on where to store your bags)
- No cameras, phones, or electronics of any kind will be allowed into the taping.
- No one under the age of 16 may attend the taping, regardless if a parent or guardian is present.
- Those attending are asked to keep to a “smart casual” dress code.
STANDBY TICKETS
Standby tickets (referred to as "standby cards") are distributed from 10 am to 3 pm on the morning of a show.
They are handed out at the "Shop at NBC Studios" located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and accessed via the 6th Avenue entrance between 49th and 50th Streets.
Standby cards are limited to one per person and are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
Standby tickets do not guarantee entry into the show.
There is so much to do at Rockefeller Center, from studio tours to walking tours and visiting the Top of the Rock, that no trip is wasted.
TONIGHT SHOW MONOLOGUE REHEARSAL TICKETS
Every day, the Tonight Show invites a small audience to watch Jimmy Fallon rehearse his monologue.
The length of time the rehearsal runs varies based on how much material Jimmy wants to rehearse.
The reaction of the rehearsal audience partially determines what jokes make it into the actual show. This is a really fun opportunity to be a part of the process.
*Please note that rehearsals may not be taking place currently. Check the website for updates.
And don't forget to check out our pay-what-you-like walking tours of New York City!
Some Fun Facts About The Tonight Show, Past, and Present…
- The original show debuted on September 27, 1954, and was officially called “The Tonight Show Starring Steve Allen.”
- Some iconic features of the show, including the opening monologue, a guest musical performer and taking the camera outside of the studio for comedy bits all began during the original show with Steve Allen
- The longest-running host of The Tonight Show was Johnny Carson, who hosted for thirty seasons.
- Jay Leno never touched a single paycheck that he earned during his time as the host of The Tonight Show. He lived solely off of his earnings as a stand-up comedian.
- The current show with comedian Jimmy Fallon is the first time “Starring” has been used in the title since Johnny Carson was the host.
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is shot in Studio 6B at NBC Studios. The studio underwent a $5 million renovation to prepare for the show’s return to New York.
- Studio 6B is where The Tonight Show was hosted by former hosts Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. A decade into his tenure as host, Carson moved with the show to Burbank, California.
- Jimmy Fallon is the sixth host of The Tonight Show. He was previously the host of Late Night, which airs right after The Tonight Show on NBC. (Fellow SNL alum Seth Meyers took over as host of Late Night.)
- Film director Spike Lee directed the current opening sequence for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
- The Roots are the current house band for the show. Steve Higgins is the announcer and “sidekick.”
- Will Smith was a guest on Jimmy Fallon’s first show, and U2 performed as a musical guest.
- The official air time of The Tonight Show is 11:34 pm Eastern Standard Time.
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