An Event to Remember

A bride and groom walk through an arch of sparklers held by a group of people at night, celebrating their wedding. The event, which could inspire those looking to rent Kauffman Center for their own special day, takes place on a brick pathway.

Over the years, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has hosted countless events, each more memorable than the last.

From receptions on the 7th Floor Balcony with the evening Kansas City skyline twinkling in the background to large conferences and symposiums that bring together the brightest minds in the world to present from our world-class stages, the Kauffman Center has become a beloved Kansas City fixture for events of all sizes.

Today, the Kauffman Center continues to inspire and delight all who enter its doors. Its timeless beauty and unmatched versatility make it a standout among other venues and it remains a beloved destination for anyone seeking to create a truly unforgettable event.

 

Special Event Rentals

Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or an event for 1,800, our team can help your vision become a reality, amaze your guests and work within your budget. With two performance halls, a stunning glass atrium lobby and seven unique event spaces, we have everything you need to make your event truly memorable.

To rent the Kauffman Center and inquire about pricing or availability, complete our form or email the events team at events@kauffmancenter.org.

Plan Your Event

Performance Rentals

Are you a local or touring performer coming through Kansas City and need a venue as legendary as you are? Consider the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The 285,000-square-foot Kauffman Center is one of the Midwest’s most acoustically and architecturally advanced performing arts centers.

Our two venues, the 1,800-seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre and 1,600-seat Helzberg Hall offer generous backstage facilities, including dressing room accommodations for more than 250 performers, rehearsal and warm-up rooms and loading dock space for multiple trucks.

We offer personalized white glove service, technical support and the amenities necessary to ensure an unforgettable experience with the Kauffman Center.

Rent for a Performance

A modern concert hall with a wooden interior, strategically placed lighting, a large stage, and tiered seating arranged in a semi-circular pattern. Seating maps are available to help guests find their perfect spot easily.
A modern glass building with a curved facade and exterior support cables is illuminated at dusk, evoking the sleek design of the Rent Kauffman Center.

Available Spaces to Rent

A spacious theater auditorium with red seats, multiple balconies, and a large stage with a closed curtain, the Kauffman Center Presents venue epitomizes modern elegance. The ceiling features an exquisite lighting design that enhances the ambiance for every performance.

Muriel Kauffman Theatre

The great opera houses of Europe served as inspiration for the 1,800-seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Illuminated balconies encircle the theater and cast a stunning glow on the stage below. The vast 5,000-square-foot stage is a grand setting for dinner, with seating for up to 300. Our 40-by-22-foot presentation screen is ideal for large meetings and presentations.

View Event Photos

A modern concert hall with tiered seating and a stage set with musical instruments for an orchestra.

Helzberg Hall

The 1,600-seat Helzberg Hall is a unique setting for meetings, presentations, intimate on-stage dinners and receptions for up to 100 seated guests. The hall features the custom-designed Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman Casavant Organ, Opus 3875, as its visual centerpiece.

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A spacious event hall with high ceilings, large windows, and round tables draped in blue tablecloths. The tables are decorated with tall floral arrangements and surrounded by transparent chairs—perfect for your next gathering when you rent the Kauffman Center.

Brandmeyer Great Hall

The Kauffman Center’s grand lobby features a four-level glass curtain wall that allows your guests to marvel at the breathtaking view of the Kansas City skyline. This grand space accommodates up to 450 seated guests or up to 1,000 guests reception-style.

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A large, white event tent set up on a green lawn in front of the modern glass and concrete Kauffman Center under a clear blue sky. Rent this perfect setting for your next outdoor occasion.

Arts District Terrace

The expansive green space, paved drive and cozy courtyards outside our majestic Brandmeyer Great Hall lobby can accommodate large groups of varying guest counts and offers spectacular views of the Kauffman Center and Kansas City.

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A spacious, modern building interior with large windows, white curved walls, glass railings, and a light-colored floor. Staircases and seating areas are visible, with sunlight streaming in. Ideal for those looking to rent a space reminiscent of the stunning Kauffman Center ambiance.

The Balconies

The upper-floor balconies provide a picturesque setting for your event.  The 7th Floor Balcony is a great choice for up to 100 seated guests or 150 reception-style.  The 5th and 6th Floor Balconies are ideal for up to 75 guests reception-style, or use all three spaces as a pre-cocktail space for a larger group.

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A modern dining area with white chairs and tables, set with napkins and glasses, and decorated with purple orchids, is beautifully integrated into the architecture of the space, featuring a backdrop of geometric wall panels.

The Founders’ Lounge

Before every performance, Kauffman Center guests can enjoy a hand-crafted specialty cocktail or exquisite and freshly prepared cuisine in the Founders’ Lounge. This intimate space is also available for private dinners, meetings or cocktail receptions for up to 80 seated guests and reception-style events for up to 125 guests.

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Rent the Kauffman Center's conference room, featuring a U-shaped table setup, chairs, a marble coffee station with cups and carafes, sofas along the sides, and a modern lamp in the corner.

Reception Suites

The Ewing & Muriel Kauffman Reception Suite and Concert Hall Reception Suite are more intimate spaces, allowing easy access to both performance halls. They’re also well-suited for cocktail receptions and meetings. Both spaces can accommodate up to 30 seated guests and up to 60 for a reception-style event.

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Testimonials

The Kauffman Center has proven to be an ideal location to host Hallmark’s Creative Leadership Symposium.

The unique glass lobby and open design allow us to showcase Hallmark’s branded elements in unique and unexpected ways. We use Helzberg Hall for our event and we’re able to host meals and a cocktail reception in Brandmeyer Great Hall for about a thousand employees and guests through the day. The result is an event that builds excitement and inspires...

- Sally Anderson, Hallmark Cards Inc.

The view from the glass lobby was a magnificent backdrop for our daughter’s wedding ceremony.

Many of our guests were from out of town and we were so proud to show off this Kansas City icon.

- Debbie Sosland-Edelman

We held the Harriman-Jewell Series’ 50th Anniversary Gala at the Kauffman Center.

Brandmeyer Great Hall provided a gorgeous setting for our brunch prior to a once-in-a-lifetime duo recital of Joyce DiDonato and Juan Diego Flórez in Helzberg Hall. The event was an unforgettable night to celebrate with donors, patrons and friends!

- Eryn Bates, Harriman-Jewell Series

Our holiday party at the Kauffman Center was unforgettable.

Our management team hosted a beautiful reception on stage, following a private performance of Kansas City Ballet’s The Nutcracker in Muriel Kauffman Theatre. It was a magical night that made all of our employees feel so valued!

- Elwanda Richardson, University of Kansas Medical Center

Muriel Kauffman Theatre was a majestic setting for our holiday party.

We invited over 200 of our employees and their families to watch an on-screen company video in the theater and dine on stage with entertainment and live music. The theater was the perfect backdrop for our presentation and the whole event was magical!

- Robert Hellweg, Aristocrat Motors

The outstanding customer service at the Kauffman Center helped make our event in Helzberg Hall an overwhelming success.

The events team was engaged and collaborative from the initial concept through the end of the event. Their ideas, enthusiasm and willingness to go the extra mile are unparalleled!

- Gina Goldstein, Waddell & Reed

The Kauffman Center has been an iconic setting to host TedxKC the past five years.

The venue is an incredibly strong draw to attract leading thinkers from around the world to participate in TEDxKC, with the opportunity to present to nearly 3,000 guests in Helzberg Hall and Muriel Kauffman Theatre. At the Kauffman Center, we’ve been able to create a stimulating environment not only for TED Talks but also musical performances and interactive experiences throughout...

- John Mulvihill, TEDxKC / VML

We hosted a client reception on the 7th Floor Balcony before a performance in Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

Our clients enjoyed viewing the Kansas City skyline from the balcony and it was so convenient to walk right into the show afterwards!

- Mary Neptune, Senior Vice President, Citizens Bank & Trust

The Kauffman Center Founders’ Lounge was a unique place to host our staff luncheon and team building event.

After a beautiful luncheon, the Kauffman staff led our group on a private tour, educating us about the origins and architecture of this Kansas City icon!

- Kellie Cram, Burns & McDonnell

A modern banquet hall with tall, slanted windows, decorated with round tables covered in blue tablecloths, set with elegant tableware and white floral centerpieces, ideal for your next special event. Don't forget to fill out the Special Event Rental Form to secure your reservation.

Memorable Special Events

A couple dances on a spacious, modern indoor venue with a large, glass roof at the Kauffman Center. Many guests are gathered around, some seated and others standing, with tables and musical equipment visible—an ideal setting you can rent for your special occasion.

Wedding in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Photo by Laura Foote.

A luxurious, sunlit banquet hall set for a formal event with an elegantly decorated round table at the Rent Kauffman Center. The room features floor-to-ceiling windows and white floral arrangements.

Wedding table decor in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Photo by Andrea Delong.

A couple stands on a modern staircase with large windows at the Kauffman Center. The woman is in a flowing, light-colored gown, and the man is in a dark suit. They look back towards the camera. Rent this stunning venue for an unforgettable experience.

Wedding in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Photo by Hallie Fry.

A spacious hall with large red banners that read "Kansas Women's Hall of Fame" and "UMKC" honoring extraordinary women, filled with a crowd of people. For grand events like this, you can rent Kauffman Center to make your celebration unforgettable.

Reception in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Photo by Brandon Parigo.

A large room with tall glass windows features round tables with black chairs, purple floral centerpieces, and large decorative balloons hanging from the ceiling. Perfect for events, you can rent this elegant space at the Kauffman Center for an unforgettable experience.

Special event in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Photo by Kyle Rivas.

A theater hall with a lit stage displaying the text "Iowa Women's Hall of Fame." The seats and balcony are illuminated, and colorful lights reflect on the walls and ceiling, reminiscent of those you’d find if you rent Kauffman Center for an elegant event.

Program in Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Photo by Brandon Parigo.

A speaker stands on a stage with a large screen behind them displaying the text: "We are here to work but EXPECT TO HAVE FUN." An audience is seated in the spacious Kauffman Center auditorium, available for rent.

Meeting in Helzberg Hall. Photo by Troy Thomas.

An outdoor event at night under illuminated tents, adjacent to the large, modern Kauffman Center with its stunning glass and steel architecture.

Outdoor lawn event. Photo by Epago FOTO.

A spacious event hall with large windows, decorated with round tables covered in blue linens, elegant floral centerpieces, and neatly arranged table settings. Perfect for any occasion, you can now rent this exquisite space at the Kauffman Center.

Plated dinner in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Photo by David Riffel.

A wide-angle view of a large, modern concert hall at the Kauffman Center with a central stage set up for a formal event. Round tables and chairs are arranged on the stage, surrounded by dramatic lighting, available for rent.

Seated dinner on the stage of Helzberg Hall. Photo by Freeland Photography.

Black and white image of people in formal attire socializing around high tables in a glass-roofed event space.

Cocktail event on the 7th Floor Balcony. Photo by epagaFoto.

A woman in a light blue, flowing dress stands by a multi-tiered white cake adorned with flowers in a modern, glass-walled building with a grand staircase and floral decorations.

Wedding in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Photo by Claire Ryser.

Modern interior space with red carpeting, high glass walls, and a curved white ceiling. A row of chairs and tables is set near the windows, and a metallic counter is on the right side.

6th Floor Balcony. Photo by Lifted Logic.

Aerial view of downtown Kansas City, featuring the Kansas City Performing Arts center with its modern building and white roof, surrounded by green spaces and urban architecture.

Plan Your Next Event

Rent Kauffman Center’s Brandmeyer Great Hall, Muriel Kauffman Theatre or Helzberg Hall for your next event.

Plan Your Event