NPR’s Tiny Desk is going big.
For four nights the week of October 28, NPR is opening its intimate, genre-bending Tiny Desk concerts to the public for the first time. The artists will be a surprise, but let’s just say we mean it when we say we’re going big. Scroll down to see what genres we’ll be featuring each night of the Fest.
Each evening of Tiny Desk Fest will begin at 6 p.m. with a happy hour at NPR’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. Guests will then watch a Tiny Desk concert recorded live at the iconic desk itself, enjoy more happy hour time, and take in an intimate conversation between that evening’s artist and one of NPR Music’s reporters.
Didn't snag tickets to the Fest in time? No problem. To celebrate the Tiny Desk, we’ll be live streaming these Tiny Desk concerts each night of the Fest. Follow NPR Music on social media or sign up here to be notified of each evening’s live stream on NPR.org, YouTube and Facebook.
Have tickets to the Fest? Remember that you must be 21 or older to attend the Fest, and you must arrive by 6:30 p.m. Make sure you’ve read (and re-read) the rest of the event policies on this page.
6:00 p.m.
Doors open! Remember to bring your photo ID, and no large bags. Happy hour with beverages and light snacks available, plus a photo booth, listening booth and more from our event sponsors
6:30 p.m.
We’ll begin ushering Fest attendees from the NPR lobby to the Tiny Desk itself! You must be at the event by this time (remember – no large bags!).
7 - 7:30 p.m.
Tiny Desk concert
7:30 - 8:15 p.m.
Happy hour continues
8:15 - 8:45 p.m.
Conversation between Tiny Desk concert artist and NPR interviewer in Studio 1
Ticket Types
General Admission (GA) tickets are $50 before tax and fees per night of the Fest, and include access to the happy hour, Tiny Desk concert and artist conversation, plus two tokens you can redeem for complimentary Jack Daniel’s beverages, courtesy of our event sponsor.
Premier tickets are $80 before tax and fees per night of the Fest. They include all of the above, plus a premium Tiny Desk Fest swag bag, first-dibs standing room for the Tiny Desk concert and reserved seating for the artist conversation.
To open the Fest to as many fans as possible, ticket purchasers may choose only one night to attend a Fest event.
Age Restriction and Ticketing Policy
You must be 21+ to attend this event. All IDs will be checked for age AND to make sure they match the name(s) entered at the time of ticket purchase. If your photo ID does not match the name(s) on your ticket order, you may be refused entry to the event. Tickets are non-transferable.
Accessibility
NPR is committed to making all its events accessible to all. NPR headquarters is an ADA-compliant building. Tiny Desk Fest ticket purchasers are asked to notify Fest organizers of any specific accessibility concerns in advance of the Fest in order to ensure a seamless experience.
Traveling to NPR
There is no parking offered at NPR for this event. We encourage public transportation and ride-sharing services. NPR is a 10-minute walk from the NoMA metro stop and is close to several bus stops. There are several commercial parking lots near NPR with variable availability. For ride shares, please use the address 1111 North Capitol Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20002.
Bag Policy
No bags larger than a personal item or small purse will be allowed.
Photography
You’re welcome to bring your phone to take still photos of the event. All other audio or visual recording equipment is prohibited, as are audio and video recording. Like all Tiny Desk concerts, the evening’s performance will be professionally filmed and photographed by our amazing in-house team, so let them do the work for you! If you wish your friends could see what you’re seeing, just tell them to tune into the live stream here.
Late Entry
Entry is from 6-6:30 p.m. only. Anyone who arrives after 6:30 p.m. will not be admitted to the event. No refunds will be provided in the case of late entry.
Content Disclaimer
As you know if you’ve seen some of our other Tiny Desk Concerts on npr.org, these performances may include profanity and other adult subject matter.
The nightly music genre is subject to change.
Can't wait for the Fest? Check out these playlists of some of our favorite Tiny Desk moments
