Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles, CA · Amphitheater
The Hollywood Bowl lets you carry a bag without making it clear, as long as it fits under your seat and stays within 22 by 15 by 15 inches. It is the open-air amphitheater in the Hollywood Hills where picnicking is a tradition, so outside food and a soft cooler are welcome inside that same size limit. The part that trips people up is alcohol, because it depends on who is putting on the show. On LA Phil nights you can bring your own wine or beer, but for many promoted concerts, which the Bowl books as lease events, outside alcohol is not allowed and you buy it inside. Always check your event page, since that is the rulebook for the night. Here is exactly what gets in at the Hollywood Bowl and what stays in the car.
Venue details
Need a concert bag for Hollywood Bowl?
Stadium-approved clear bags that meet the policy.
What you can bring
- A bag of any kind up to 22 by 15 by 15 inches that fits under your seat, clear or not
- A soft cooler or picnic basket within that same size limit
- An empty reusable bottle to refill at the water stations, or a factory sealed plastic bottle up to one liter
- Your own wine or beer on LA Phil-presented nights only, within the size limit
Not allowed inside
- Any bag, cooler, or basket larger than 22 by 15 by 15 inches
- Glass containers and aluminum cans of any kind
- Outside alcohol at lease events, which is how most promoted concerts are booked, where it is sold inside instead
- Professional cameras with detachable lenses, GoPros, selfie sticks, tripods, drones, laptops, and tablets
- Personal chairs, umbrellas, and luggage
Outside alcohol is the big variable. LA Phil-presented concerts let you bring your own wine and beer, while lease events, which is how most touring pop and rock shows are booked here, do not, and sell it inside instead. Your event page says which set of rules applies, so check it before you pack a bottle. Lease events also run a bag check at the gate.
Upcoming events
Heading to a show at Hollywood Bowl? Here are the next events, with tickets on StubHub and SeatGeek so you can compare before you buy. The bag policy above applies to every one of them.
Browse all upcoming concerts →
No bag that fits? Plan ahead
There is no bag check or locker for anything that does not make it in, so an oversized or prohibited item has to go back to your car or get tossed. Many people use the Park and Ride shuttles rather than the stacked on-site lots, so sort your bag out before you reach the gate.
Common questions
Does the Hollywood Bowl require a clear bag?
No. Bags do not have to be clear. Any bag that fits under your seat and stays within 22 by 15 by 15 inches is fine.
Can I bring my own food to the Hollywood Bowl?
Yes. Picnicking is part of the Bowl experience, and outside food is welcome as long as your cooler or basket fits the same 22 by 15 by 15 inch limit.
Can I bring my own alcohol?
It depends on the show. LA Phil-presented concerts allow outside wine and beer, but lease events, which is how most promoted concerts are booked, do not, and you buy it inside instead. Check your event page.
Are coolers allowed at the Hollywood Bowl?
Yes, a soft cooler is allowed if it fits under your seat within the 22 by 15 by 15 inch limit. No glass or aluminum cans, though.
What time should I arrive?
Plan for about 30 minutes before showtime for security screening and metal detectors, and a little earlier on lease events that add a bag check.
Getting there
Gates open
Security screening with metal detectors is at every entrance, so arrive about 30 minutes before showtime, and a bit earlier for lease events that add a bag check.
Parking
On-site parking is mostly stacked lots, where you can be boxed in until the cars ahead of you leave. Many people use the Park and Ride shuttles from lots around LA to skip the stacked-parking crawl.
Public transit
Metro runs a shuttle to the Bowl from the Hollywood/Highland station on event nights, one of the easiest ways in. The venue sits just off the 101 in the Hollywood Hills.
Rideshare
Rideshare drop-off is on Highland Avenue near the entrance, with a marked pickup zone after the show, though expect a wait as the hill clears out.
Seating chart
Verified June 2026 against the Hollywood Bowl official policy. Rules can change for one-off events, so check your event page too.