By Akanni Dorcas

With over 200,000 cinema screens worldwide, theatres come in all shapes and sizes, offering various capacities and experiences to moviegoers and concert audiences alike. Among them, a select few stand out for their grand seating capacities, providing entertainment for thousands at once.

Here’s a look at the 10 biggest theatres in the world, showcasing a range of architectural and cultural marvels from across the globe.

Astor Theatre, Australia 

With a capacity of 1,150, the Astor Theatre is an iconic venue in Australia, known for hosting both classic and contemporary films. The Astor Theatre opened on April 3, 1936, and was one of Melbourne’s last theatres with a traditional two-level auditorium, a design that was expensive and later became less popular. During World War II and the years after, the cinema continued to operate, mostly screening popular American films from big studios like MGM, Paramount, and United Artists.

Palais Garnier, France 

The Palais Garnier, also called L’Opéra Garnier, is a historic opera house in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France, with 1,979 seats. Built for the Paris Opera between 1861 and 1875 on the orders of Emperor Napoleon III, it was initially called the “new Paris Opera.” Soon, it became known as the Palais Garnier, a name honouring its lavish design and the architect Charles Garnier’s vision in the Napoleon III style.

Until 1989, it was the main venue for the Paris Opera and the Paris Opera Ballet, which now primarily uses it for ballet. The Palais Garnier has been a French historic monument since 1923.

Grand Theatre, Poland

The Grand Theatre in Warsaw, also known as the Great Theatre—National Opera, is an opera and theatre complex located in the historic Theatre Square in central Warsaw, Poland. It houses the Polish National Ballet and has over 2,000 seats.

The theatre first opened on February 24, 1833, with a performance of Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’. After being almost entirely destroyed in World War II, it was rebuilt and reopened on November 19, 1965, following a 20-year closure. The original neoclassical building was designed by architects Antonio Corazzi and Chrystian Piotr Aigner with restoration by Bohdan Pniewski.

Le Grand Rex, France

Le Grand Rex in Paris, France, is a well-known cinema and concert venue, admired for its Art Deco design. It has a seating capacity of around 2,750 in its main hall, though it can accommodate up to 2,800 guests. 

The Grand Rex opened on December 8, 1932, with an event attended by cinema pioneer Louis Lumière and 3,300 guests, featuring ‘The Three Musketeers’ by Henri Diamant-Berger. The venue is located at 1 Boulevard Poissonnière in the 2nd arrondissement, along the grand boulevards of Paris.

Hammersmith Apollo, UK

The Hammersmith Apollo, now known as the Eventim Apollo due to sponsorship, was originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. It is located in Hammersmith, London, and is an art deco building listed as Grade II.

Designed by Robert Cromie, who also renovated the Prince of Wales Theatre, it opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace and could seat nearly 3,500 people. In 1962, it was renamed the Hammersmith Odeon.

Royal Albert Hall, UK

The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall located in South Kensington, London, England. It can seat 5,272 people. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, many top artists from various performance genres have performed there. The hall hosts the BBC Proms concerts every summer, a tradition that started in 1941.

Initially, it was to be called the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences. However, Queen Victoria changed the name to the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences when she laid the foundation stone in 1867. This name honours her husband, Prince Albert, who passed away six years earlier.

Sydney Opera House, Australia

Though commonly associated with the USA due to its name, this landmark in Australia seats 5,738 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admired globally for its unique architecture. The Sydney Opera House is a performing arts centre located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 

Danish architect Jørn Utzon designed the building, and it was completed by an Australian team led by Peter Hall. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Opera House on October 20, 1973, which was 16 years after Utzon won an international design competition in 1957.

Radio City Music Hall, USA 

This New York City venue can host up to 5,960 people and is known for its grand performances, including the annual Christmas Spectacular.

Radio City Music Hall, also known as Radio City, is an entertainment venue and theatre located at 1260 Avenue of the Americas in Rockefeller Centre, New York City. The hall was designed by Edward Durell Stone and Donald Deskey in the Art Deco style.
Originally, the land was meant for a Metropolitan Opera House, but those plans were cancelled in 1929. Radio City Music Hall opened on December 27, 1932, as part of the Rockefeller Centre project.

Kinepolis-Madrid Ciudad de la Imagen, Spain

On September 17, 1998, Kinepolis Madrid Ciudad de la Imagen opened in Spain. It is the largest cinema megaplex in the world. The megaplex has 25 screens and a total seating capacity of 9,200. Each screen can seat between 211 and 996 people.

Hollywood Bowl, USA 

Topping the list with 17,500 seats, the Hollywood Bowl, an amphitheatre and public park located in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, California, has hosted countless legendary concerts.  In 2018, Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the ten best live music venues in the United States. In 2023, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.