Hancher Auditorium named Billboard 2026 top music venue

Hancher Auditorium has been named to Billboard magazine’s 2026 Top Music Venues list, placing it in company with massive stadiums and famous theaters across the country and around the world.

Hancher was listed in the “Keeping It Indie” category, which featured 28 venues classified by region, capacity and other attributes chosen by Billboard staff. Other venues on the list include The Sphere in Las Vegas (Top West Coast Arena) and Preservation Hall in New Orleans (Best Concept).

“Hancher Auditorium has become a quiet powerhouse for indie touring in the Midwest,” the Billboard list says. “The venue perfectly balances concert hall precision and intimate energy, hosting artists like Stereolab, Jason Isbell, and Neko Case. The indie darling boasts flawless acoustics, an adjustable lighting grid and impeccable sightlines, while its supportive atmosphere and smooth logistics make it a must-play stage for performers.”

The magazine goes on to say that Hancher’s location at the University of Iowa draws a college crowd and other fans “who can enjoy pre-stroll shows along the Iowa River and/or stops at nearby cafes and galleries. Hancher connects the energy of Iowa City’s creative community to the greater live-music world.”

André Perry, executive director of Hancher Auditorium and UI’s Office of Performing Arts and Engagement, says this notable affirmation about the work taking place at Hancher and UI is inspiring.

“Everything we do is about teamwork: taking care of our artists behind the scenes, connecting students with performers in the classroom, honoring and preserving this incredible building, and welcoming every patron who visits us,” Perry said.

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Hancher, founded in 1972 as a hub for creativity on campus and in the Iowa City community, annually presents a wide range of performances and events, including touring artists, Broadway shows, student performances, commencement ceremonies and community events. Hancher also is an essential piece of Performing Arts at Iowa, the collaborative network of performing arts units on campus that includes the Department of Dance, Department of Theatre Arts, Performing Arts Production Unit and the School of Music.

The current building is not the first iteration of Hancher on campus. The original auditorium was demolished after being damaged in the flood of 2008. The current building opened in September 2016, just north of the original location along the Iowa River.

The main auditorium seats 1,800 while the smaller Strauss Hall hosts 200. The spaces were designed to create a sense of intimacy between the performers and the audience. The stage walls can be adjusted to accommodate different productions, and the building’s many curves enhance acoustics.

As part of the Office of Performing Arts and Engagement, Hancher embeds its visiting artist programming into the UI curriculum through ongoing collaborations with the departments of Dance and Theatre Arts, the School of Music and more. In 2024–25, visiting artists connected with more than 1,700 UI students, helping them develop skills to succeed in creative and professional fields.

“We see Hancher as an incubator for creativity and community at the university,” Perry said. “We are a source of arts, culture, and discovery. When you come here, you might be inspired to make art or have a breakthrough with a big idea or feel at home with new or old friends.”

Hancher’s mission also includes ensuring access to the arts on campus, in the community, and across the state. In the 2024–25 season, Hancher welcomed more than 10,000 UI students to events and 1,400 local K–12 students to arts and education experiences.

In the 2025–26 season, Hancher hosted big events — such as the Fall Welcome Concert on the lawn with more than 5,000 attendees — and led interdisciplinary collaborations — such as the Trisha Brown Dance Company’s fall visit with the Department of Dance; School of Art, Art History, and Design; and the School of Music.

“It might be seeing rock band Goose play an incredible set on the Hancher Green, or witnessing the Minnesota Orchestra fully embed for a day of community and education at Voxman Music Building with our UI Symphony Orchestra, or listening to a set of new material from rising comedian Josh Johnson on the Hancher stage,” Perry said. “So many experiences are possible at Hancher.”