Red Rocks Amphitheatre is pretty much perfect, right? Well, in the eyes of its owners, there’s always something to improve. They task themselves with replenishing the iconic venue’s “wow” factor for returning patrons year after year, and that means significant upgrades lie in store for 2026.
First and foremost, the Red Rocks grounds will now include a permanent, dedicated merchandise structure. This will replace the pop-up tent staff members set up for each event, and it’s designed to match the rustic regional flagstone masonry of the rest of the amphitheater.
Red Rocks is also adding a long-envisioned feature to its East Stairs. The East Terrace, as it’s called, was first proposed by architect Burnham Hoyt, who was enlisted to design the amphitheater as part of then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1936. His original plans are gaining new life in 2026, a milestone year that marks 85 years since construction of the venue finished.
Red Rocks History
And what an 85 years it’s been. In August 1964, Red Rocks played host to none other than the Beatles, with Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, and Jethro Tull performing there in the years that followed. The Grateful Dead, U2, Dave Matthews Band, Tiësto, and Carl Cox have also performed there over the years.
In 2025 alone, artists like Burna Boy, Wiz Khalifa, Sublime, and Subtronics have taken the stage at the world-famous venue. The 2026 schedule includes such celebrated acts as The String Cheese Incident, Blues Traveler, Zeds Dead, and Widespread Panic.
Red Rocks projects that both projects will be finished “in springtime,” but exact dates have yet to be announced at the time of writing.
