The Los Angeles Philharmonic has announced a new ticketing initiative that will offer Los Angeles County residents holding active Medi‑Cal or EBT cards the chance to buy tickets to Hollywood Bowl performances for $10. The programme will start with the 2027 season, the organisation said.
What the scheme will look like
The L.A. Phil plans to make at least 100 of the discounted tickets available at each Hollywood Bowl concert, on a first‑come, first‑served basis. The organisation has not yet released the precise logistics for how eligible residents will secure the tickets; it said details will be announced in spring 2027 ahead of the season.
- At least 100 discounted tickets per Bowl concert
- Price: $10 per ticket
- Eligibility: Los Angeles County residents with active Medi‑Cal or EBT cards
- Distribution: first‑come, first‑served; booking process to be announced in spring 2027
Organisational context and past access work
The announcement is part of an ongoing accessibility push at the L.A. Phil. Vice President of Community and Government Engagement Cynthia Fuentes said the organisation has prioritised accessibility "for a very long time" and that new programmes must be "very intentional" in order to reach people who are struggling financially.
"Folks are really struggling to make ends meet right now, and for us, it’s so important not only that we create great music on our stages, but that people can afford to see it," Fuentes said.
The new $10 ticketing move comes against a backdrop of higher average prices for Bowl seats: Fuentes said the average ticket at the Hollywood Bowl is about $48. The L.A. Phil has a history of discounted and free ticketing initiatives dating back decades. Since the 1970s the orchestra has offered reduced‑price seats and currently distributes tens of thousands of low‑cost or free tickets annually.
Recent figures cited by the organisation show it offers over 50,000 tickets at $1 each each year. Some of those seats are open to the public; others are allocated through partnerships with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and L.A. County Parks, and to groups such as low‑income students and senior centres. The L.A. Phil also runs a programme called Community Concert Connections, through which tens of thousands of free tickets are distributed to non‑profit organisations.
| Programme | Approximate annual tickets | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Bowl average ticket | — | $48 |
| $1 ticket programme | 50,000+ | $1 |
| New Medi‑Cal / EBT scheme (per concert) | 100 tickets | $10 |
Why this matters
Public‑facing arts institutions in many countries are increasingly under pressure to demonstrate social value and broaden audience access. For orchestras, which often rely on ticket revenue and philanthropic support, targeted pricing schemes are one way to lower economic barriers and reach communities that might otherwise be excluded.
For the L.A. Phil, which already expanded its low‑cost ticketing last year from 36,000 to 55,000 $1 seats, the $10 initiative is another step in that direction. The organisation also piloted new accessibility programming at the Ford during the venue’s 2026 season, indicating a wider institutional commitment to experimenting with access models across venues.
Details on how the booking will work, and whether proof of benefit status will be verified online or in person, will be important to potential attendees and partner organisations. The L.A. Phil’s spring 2027 announcement should clarify those practical questions ahead of the 2027 season.
This move will be watched by other major arts organisations keen to balance financial sustainability with the goal of making the arts affordable to a broader cross‑section of the public.
