Guide
TKTS Booth NYC: Times Square Hours, Discounts & Prices
What the TKTS booths in Times Square and Lincoln Center sell, when they're open, how the discounts and TDF's service charge work, and when TodayTix or the show's own seller is the better buy.
TKTS at a glance
Up to 50% off same-day performances and next-day matinees. TDF's $8 per-ticket service charge is included in the prices on the board; TDF notes that some tickets may carry additional non-TDF charges.
| Day | Times SquareBroadway at W 47th St | Lincoln Center61 W 62nd St |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Closed |
| Tuesday | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Closed |
Hours as posted on TDF's TKTS Live page, checked October 31, 2026. Holiday weeks differ; TDF posts those on the same page, along with what is on the board today.
Shows marked as TKTS shows in our records
29 of the 32 Broadway shows EvenAisle covers are marked in our records as appearing at TKTS. The board changes every day, so check TKTS Live before you go.
- Billy Crystal: 860
- Aladdin
- The Book of Mormon
- Buena Vista Social Club
- Chicago
- The Great Gatsby
- Hadestown
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Here There Are Blueberries
- The Imaginary Invalid
- It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
- & Juliet
- Just in Time
- The Lion King
- The Lost Boys
- Maybe Happy Ending
- MJ the Musical
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Oh, Mary!
- Operation Mincemeat
- The Outsiders
- Paranormal Activity
- The Rocky Horror Show
- Schmigadoon!
- Six the Musical
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow
- Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
- Wanted
- Wicked
Not marked as TKTS shows in our records: A Few Good Men, Hamilton and Other Desert Cities.
TKTS is the discount ticket booth in Times Square, and the one at Lincoln Center. The short version: up to 50% off same-day performances and next-day matinees, bought in person, from whatever is on the board that day. The box above has each booth’s hours and the shows our records mark as appearing at TKTS.
EvenAisle may earn a small commission when you buy through some of the links below. Our recommendations are not influenced by these affiliate relationships.
What TKTS is
TKTS is run by TDF (Theatre Development Fund), a not-for-profit that has been “dedicated to sharing the power of the performing arts with everyone since 1968,” in TDF’s own words. TDF’s per-ticket service charge supports its other programs.
There are two booths in New York:
- Times Square — Broadway at West 47th Street, under the red steps. It also has TDF’s 7-Day Fast Pass lane: bring your TKTS ticket stubs back within seven days of a TKTS purchase and you can walk up to the Fast Pass lane instead of joining the line.
- Lincoln Center — 61 West 62nd Street.
Both booths take Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, cash and TKTS eGift Cards; TDF notes that a handful of Off-Broadway shows are cash only.
What’s on the board
A show is on the board when its producers have released seats to TKTS for that performance. For each listing, TDF’s online board shows the discount, the discounted price range and the performance time, with an “Updated” time on each list.
When we checked on Saturday, October 31, 2026, the Times Square booth’s same-day Broadway list (updated 11:21 AM) had 37 listings across 22 shows. They included long-runners such as Chicago, The Book of Mormon and Aladdin, hits such as Hadestown, MJ and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and new arrivals such as The Imaginary Invalid and Wanted, which was still in previews.
Not everything turns up. Hamilton is not on our record of TDF’s recent boards at all. Wicked and The Lion King were not on the October 31 lists either, and we have no dated record of either on a recent board. The board changes every day.
New and short runs can appear early. TDF’s Lincoln Center list updated October 24, 2026, three days after Billy Crystal: 860 opened, included it, and Wanted was on both booths’ lists while still in previews. Check the board for the day you want.
What TKTS tickets cost
The price on the board is the discounted price for that performance, with TDF’s $8 per-ticket service charge already included. TDF notes that some tickets may carry additional non-TDF charges. Discounts run up to 50% off.
On the October 31 Times Square same-day Broadway list, 27 of the 37 listings were 50% off, 6 were 40% off and 4 were 30% off, and the discounted prices ran from $55 to $157. Its next-day matinee list had 13 of 23 listings at 50% off, at $61 to $178. That is one morning’s board, and it changes daily, but it shows that 50% off is not rare.
A discounted seat is not automatically the cheapest way in. That same day, The Imaginary Invalid was 50% off at TKTS for $91, while its TodayTix rush was $48 with the fee included, and TodayTix’s cheapest regular seat was $69 before its booking fee. Before you buy, check the show’s rush and lottery and its regular prices for the same performance.
When to go
The hours are in the box at the top of this page. They differ by booth and by day of the week, so check before you set out.
- Want a specific show? Check TKTS Live or the TKTS app first, then go early in the booth’s day. The board updates as seats sell.
- Any show will do? You can go later, but the choice can narrow as the day goes on.
- Want a matinee? Both booths sell next-day matinees, so you can buy tomorrow’s matinee today.
- Been in the last week? At Times Square, use the Fast Pass lane with your TKTS ticket stubs.
TKTS vs TodayTix
They solve different problems.
| TKTS | TodayTix | |
|---|---|---|
| What it sells | Discounted seats released for today’s performances and tomorrow’s matinees | Regular seats for upcoming performances, plus app rushes and lotteries for some shows |
| Price | Up to 50% off, with TDF’s $8 per-ticket service charge included on the board | Face value plus a booking fee; seats below face are the exception (Chicago: 19 of the 168 performances listed on November 2, 2026) |
| How you buy | In person at the Times Square or Lincoln Center booth | In the app or online |
| Choice of show | Whatever is on the board that day | Any show TodayTix sells |
| Best for | Flexible about which show, able to get to a booth | A specific show or date, or an app rush |
On TodayTix’s own listings, checked October 31, 2026, every show we looked at that had regular seats listed carried a booking fee on top of face value, and 4 of the 13 shows had at least some seats priced below face. Several productions also run a rush in the TodayTix app. That day, The Book of Mormon, Paranormal Activity, Other Desert Cities and The Imaginary Invalid each showed one, priced $40 to $49 with TodayTix’s $8 fee included.
So: if you’re flexible and near a booth, check TKTS. If you want a particular show or date, use TodayTix or the show’s own seller, and look at the show’s rush and lottery first. Our rush and lottery guide lists every one we track.
When TKTS is the wrong answer
- You want a specific show. If it isn’t in the box above, don’t plan around TKTS. Use the lottery, the rush or the official seller.
- You need a date more than a day away. TKTS sells only same-day performances and next-day matinees.
- You want particular seats. You can only buy what has been released to TKTS that day.
- You can’t reach a booth while it’s open.
When TKTS is the right answer
- You’re flexible about which show you see. The variety is the point.
- You’re price-sensitive. Up to 50% off, with the service charge included in the price you see.
- You lost a lottery. TKTS is a same-day fallback.
TDF Membership is a different program
TDF also runs a membership program, and it is not the same thing as TKTS. Per TDF:
- It costs $42 a year (TDF’s site, checked October 31, 2026), and it is open only to eligible groups — among them people 30 and under, full-time students of any age, freelancers and the self-employed, artists and arts professionals, workers eligible for overtime pay, union members and retirees. You upload proof of eligibility.
- Broadway tickets cost $53.50 to $62.50, and you can buy online up to four weeks in advance.
- The tickets are not the same inventory as the TKTS booths, membership gives you no special treatment at TKTS, and you don’t need to be a member to buy at TKTS.
If you qualify and see several shows a year, it is worth a look at TDF Membership.
The TKTS app
TDF’s free TKTS app, for iOS and Android, shows TKTS Live: what is on sale at both New York booths in real time. Its “My List” feature notifies you when shows you’ve saved become available at TKTS. You still buy at the booth.
On Android, get it from Google Play. The same board is on TDF’s TKTS Live page in any browser.
Quick reference
- What it is: TDF’s not-for-profit discount booths, selling same-day performances and next-day matinees at up to 50% off
- Price: TDF’s $8 per-ticket service charge is included in the board price
- Where: Times Square (Broadway at West 47th Street) and Lincoln Center (61 West 62nd Street)
- When: the hours are in the box at the top of this page, and TKTS Live has today’s board
- TKTS or TodayTix: TKTS if you’re flexible; TodayTix or the show’s own seller for a specific show or date
Each show page on EvenAisle flags whether that show has appeared at TKTS, so you can plan ahead before your trip. For the full guide to every legitimate ticket channel, see How to buy Broadway tickets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TKTS booth and who runs it?
TKTS is a discount ticket booth run by TDF (Theatre Development Fund), a not-for-profit that has worked to share the performing arts with everyone since 1968. It sells discounted tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows for same-day performances and next-day matinees. There are two booths in New York: Times Square (Broadway at West 47th Street) and Lincoln Center (61 West 62nd Street).
How much can you save at TKTS?
Up to 50% off. TDF's $8 per-ticket service charge is already included in the prices on the board, though TDF notes that some tickets may carry additional non-TDF charges. On the Times Square booth's same-day Broadway list on October 31, 2026, 27 of the 37 listings were 50% off, at $55 to $157; its next-day matinee list had 13 of 23 at 50% off.
What time does the TKTS booth open?
Per TDF's posted hours, checked October 31, 2026: the Times Square booth opens at 11 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and at 3 PM on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and closes at 8 PM. The Lincoln Center booth is open 11 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday through Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday. Holiday weeks differ; TDF posts those hours on its TKTS Live page.
Can you buy TKTS tickets in advance?
Only one day ahead, and only for matinees. TKTS sells tickets for same-day performances and next-day matinees, so you can buy tomorrow's matinee today; evening performances are sold only on the day.
Is TKTS or TodayTix better?
They do different jobs. TKTS sells discounted seats for today's performances and tomorrow's matinees, in person, from whatever is on the board. TodayTix sells regular seats for upcoming dates at face value plus a booking fee, and some shows run their rush or lottery in its app. If you're flexible about which show you see and can get to a booth, check TKTS. If you want a specific show or date, use TodayTix or the show's own seller, and check whether the show has a rush.
Does TKTS have an app?
Yes. TDF's TKTS app is free for iOS and Android. It shows TKTS Live, a real-time display of what's on sale at both New York booths, and can notify you when shows you've saved become available at TKTS. You still buy at the booth.