The Palace Theatre, Stamford: A Complete Guide

Updated June 2026 · 5 min read

The Palace Theatre is downtown Stamford's grand old stage. It opened in 1927. For decades it has been Fairfield County's top spot for shows. It books concerts, comedy, dance, and touring theater. A nonprofit called the Stamford Center for the Arts runs it. It is a mid-size room. You get a real seat, close to the action.

A 1927 landmark

The Palace opened in 1927. Thomas W. Lamb built it. He also built Waterbury's Palace. At the time, people called it one of Connecticut's best theaters. It closed as a movie house around 1980. It reopened in 1983 for live shows. Later work made the stage bigger and updated the backstage. Today it seats about 1,580.

What plays there

The Palace books many kinds of shows. Touring concerts cover rock, pop, soul, and jazz. You'll also find big-name comedy, ballet, dance, opera, family shows, and touring Broadway shows. Resident groups perform here too. They include Connecticut Ballet and local orchestra and youth-music groups. Between the touring acts, there is a steady stream of local shows.

Getting there & parking

The Palace is at 61 Atlantic Street in downtown Stamford. You can walk from the restaurants and bars near Columbus Park. It is an easy trip from the Stamford train station. The theater has no lot of its own. Public garages sit a few blocks away. The Landmark Square garage is one of the closest for night shows.

Around Fairfield County

The Palace is a key part of the region's live scene. See more in our guide to live music in Fairfield County and concert venues in Stamford. For Broadway tours, see Broadway shows in Connecticut.

Every Palace show is in the CT Concert Center app. So is every other CT venue. It's the easy way to see what's coming to Stamford.