Arguably Mexico’s most important music venue, this architectural gem near Bosque de Chapultepec presents more than 250 concerts a year, from blockbuster tours by global superstars like ROSALÍA and Maluma to shows by local pop legends like OV7 and Gloria Trevi. The landmark building’s original facade is made of riveted iron—the same technique used on the Eiffel Tower—and its iconic clamshell stage became a second home for Mexican divo Juan Gabriel, who sold out the venue dozens of times.

The smaller sister stage of the Auditorio Nacional, this approximately 1200-seat concert hall is renowned for its excellent acoustics, family-friendly programming, and intimate performances that foster magical energy between fans and artists. Stop by to see international ballets, local theater productions, and concerts from CDMX favorites like mariachi singer Rosy Arango and música romántica star Jorge Muñiz.

You can’t miss this iconic retro theater sitting just south of the Alameda Central. Initially designed as a movie palace in the 1940s—with a gorgeous Art Deco exterior reportedly inspired by Radio City Music Hall—it was transformed into a concert hall in 1996 and quickly became a staple of Mexico City’s music scene, drawing major international acts like Sigur Rós, David Byrne, José González, and The Smashing Pumpkins.

When this Iztacalco arena and baseball stadium first opened in 1993, Madonna christened its massive stage with three sold-out performances (during her Girlie Show era). Over the past 30 years, nearly every major rock band—Pink Floyd, U2, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Coldplay, the list goes on—has made Foro Sol a must in their international touring schedules. If it’s your first time, plan ahead—traffic can be a bear.

Among the many iconic moments captured under this copper-domed arena, the image of Beyoncé holding up the Mexican flag during her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour is one forever etched into CDMX history. The Cure, Bruce Springsteen, Cher, C. Tangana, and Shakira are just a few of the superstars who have commanded this stage since its inauguration in 1968—a perfect echo of Mathias Goeritz's Olympic-era Ursa Major sculpture, which towers over fans at the stadium’s entrance.

There’s a haunting elegance to this regal 1918 theater, located in Mexico City’s historic center, that some credit to the ghost of opera singer Esperanza Iris, who lived here until her death in 1962. Her opulent tastes can still be felt everywhere, from the lush carpeting to the gold-trimmed seats. Legendary banda singer Jenni Rivera channeled Iris’ magic in the concert film for her album Joyas Prestadas (or “borrowed jewels”), which was recorded here with a 26-piece orchestra.

Beneath the golden dome of Mexico City’s most iconic opera house, the National Symphony Orchestra and Amalia Hernández’s majestic Ballet Folklórico perform alongside murals by Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. The architecture, a mix of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, has pre-colonial flourishes that capture Mexican ingenuity through the ages. It’s all dramatically tied together by a mosaic curtain of Favrile glass, crafted by Tiffany in 1911 as a tribute to Mexico’s natural landmarks.

Inaugurated in the 1950s as a state-of-the-art movie theater, this iconic Condesa venue was remodeled and relaunched in 2012 as a midsize concert space—preserving architect José Villagrán’s original modernist design, as well as the pristine acoustics. Whether cheering from the balcony or thrashing in the pit, the theater is known for hosting rising stars: It presented early tours by K-pop idols MONSTA X and SF9, and local indie-rock luminaries CLUBZ and Bratty.

Boasting one of the largest indoor-outdoor LED displays in the world, this massive 22,000-seat arena in Azcapotzalco opened in 2012 with a show from “El Sol de México” Luis Miguel, who arrived by helicopter on the roof. It has drawn heavy-hitting global talent ever since. In 2022, K-pop sensations SUPER JUNIOR performed here after their CDMX fans demanded they switch from the Olympic Velodrome to a larger spot. If you can, experience the campy glitz of their epic Lucha Libre nights.

Towering over Colonia Nápoles, the WTC has been a sort of pop-up cultural expo center since it opened in 1972, with varying degrees of success. Then, in 2012, it made things official with the debut of the glitzy Pepsi Center auditorium, which became a go-to destination for alt-rock luminaries like Lana Del Rey and Nick Cave. In 2022, to help spur its post-pandemic recovery, the venue’s leadership invested $1 million in multi-sensory digital upgrades (see: virtual reality).