Pittsburgh

Byham Theater

September 16 2026
Within Walking Distance

Overview

Getting To and From

Inside the Venue

Onsite Accessibility

Our Guidelines

Comments

Accessibility Information Google Map Venue Floor Plan Website

About

The Byham Theater is a 1,300-seat theater at 101 Sixth Street in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, operated by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. It was built in 1903 as the Gayety Theater and opened on Halloween night 1904, running for years as one of the country's foremost stage and vaudeville houses with appearances by Ethel Barrymore, Gertrude Lawrence, and Helen Hayes. In the 1930s it was renamed The Fulton and became a full time movie theater. The Trust bought it, renovated it, and reopened it in May 1991, then renamed it the Byham Theater in 1995 following a naming gift from William C. and Carolyn M. Byham. Today it hosts dance, music, theater, film, and family-friendly events year round. The renovation history matters for access: the second phase in 1995 brought new restrooms, a new box office, a marquee, an elevator, lobby improvements, and facade changes, the Cherub Lobby was restored in 1997, and the third phase in 1999 updated the rigging, enlarged the orchestra pit, and replaced the HVAC. Wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms sit on the orchestra level. The catch is the elevator, which reaches the lower lobby and the top of the balcony only, not every level. All guests pass through security screening before entry. To request accommodations, call Guest Services on 412-456-6666, and submit anything needing coordination at least two weeks ahead.

Getting To and From

Features	Information Available on Website	Available at Venue	Notes	Additional Info / Things to Know
On Site Parking Garage or Lot	Yes	No	The Byham Theater has no parking garage or lot at the theater itself. The Trust offers pre-paid parking at two separate garages, the Theater Square Garage and the K&L Gates Center Garage, both at their own addresses nearby. The Cultural District also has many lots, garages, and street parking, with most parking areas just blocks from any of the Trust's theaters.
Drop Off/Pick Up Lanes/ Ride Share	Yes	Yes	Patrons are always welcome to drop off and pick up directly in front of the doors of any Pittsburgh Cultural Trust theater or gallery, including the Byham. Curbside wheelchair assistance is available upon arrival. Lyft is the Official Rideshare Partner of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.	Public transport reaches the Cultural District by Port Authority bus, the T light rail, and the inclines. Port Authority buses are free for travel within the downtown zone until 7 p.m., and the T is always free downtown. Trip planning is at the Port Authority online Trip Planner or on 412-442-2000. Guests arriving by motorcoach or school bus should read the Trust's published bus parking tips.
Off site Parking	Yes	Yes	Two garages take Trust pre-paid parking, both operated by Alco Parking. Theater Square Garage: 667 Penn Avenue, GPS 120 7th Street, $20 pre-paid, open 24 hours seven days, clearance 7 feet 2 inches, and 16 accessible spaces. K&L Gates Center Garage: 210 Sixth Avenue, GPS 589 Wood Street, $15 pre-paid, open 24 hours seven days, clearance 6 feet 3 inches, maximum vehicle length 12 feet.	Accessible spaces are given a number only for the Theater Square Garage, and the Trust describes that garage as close to the Benedum Center and the O'Reilly Theater rather than the Byham. No accessible space count is published for the K&L Gates Center Garage, which is the nearer of the two to Sixth Street. Add parking to any order by calling 412-456-6666 or during online checkout. ParkPGH, a Trust project, gives real-time garage information. Garage contact: Alco Parking on 412-323-4455.
Accessible Entrance	Yes	Yes	Curbside wheelchair assistance is available upon arrival at the theater doors. There is a ramp inside the Byham: the Trust's directions to the Byham Guest Services Device Center are up the ramp, past the first set of stairs, and to the right.	The Trust does not name a designated accessible entrance door for the Byham, and it does not say whether the street threshold is level. The entry vestibule is original to the 1904 building and keeps its mosaic tile floor. Call the Byham on 412-456-1350 or Guest Services on 412-456-6666 to confirm the route that suits you.
Site Map/Floorplan	Yes	Yes	A detailed seating chart PDF is published for the Byham Theater, covering the Orchestra Level, Mezzanine, Gallery, and Balcony, plus the small and large pit configurations. Unlike the Benedum chart, this one does not mark wheelchair or accessible seating positions, so it shows the layout but not where accessible seats sit.	The only items labelled Platform on this chart are speaker platforms, not wheelchair platforms. Do not read them as accessible seating.

Inside the Venue

Features	Information Available on Website	Available at Venue	Notes	Additional Info / Things to Know
Dedicated Accessible Entrance	Yes	No	No separate or dedicated accessible entrance is described for the Byham. All guests use the main entrance on Sixth Street, with curbside wheelchair assistance offered on arrival.
Street Level Access and Automatic Doors	Yes		The Trust's only published description of the route inside is that the Byham Guest Services Device Center is up the ramp, past the first set of stairs, and to the right. So a ramp exists and at least one set of stairs sits on that route. No automatic doors are described at the Byham, and no statement is made about whether the street entrance is level.	Automatic doors are documented at the Benedum Center, not here. Because this is a 1904 building, do not assume the entrance matches the newer venues. Call the Byham on 412-456-1350 before the visit if a level threshold or a powered door matters to you.
Security Checkpoint	Yes	Yes	All guests are subject to a physical screening and inspection prior to entry, and this is in effect at the Byham Theater. Screening uses EVOLV contactless screening machines, which let guests walk through with their bags, coats, and permissible items. By presenting a ticket and entering, you consent to screening, and refusing it may result in denied entry.	Bag policy: one bag per guest, no larger than 16 by 16 by 8 inches. That covers purses, tote bags, duffel bags, suitcases, knapsacks, backpacks, packages, cartons, paper sacks, briefcases, portfolio cases, binocular cases, and camera equipment cases. Bags are subject to search and theatergoers may be asked to open their jackets before entering. Guests with prohibited items may return them to their vehicles, and unattended items left outside the doors are discarded. The 24 hour campus security desk is 412-456-2610.
Use of Mobility Aids	Yes	Yes	Curbside wheelchair assistance is available upon arrival. Service dogs and miniature horses are welcome in all of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's theaters and facilities. The Byham has its own Guest Services Device Center, up the ramp, past the first set of stairs, and to the right, where accessibility equipment is collected. Assistive listening devices are available at all venues for all performances on a first come, first served basis, and infrared assistive listening devices are in all theaters.	Also at the Byham: large print programs for most shows at the Guest Services Device Center, published Kulture City social stories for the venue, and a lactation room in Guest Services at the top of the Ramp Lobby on the main level. Note what is documented only at the Benedum Center and not here: Sennheiser MobileConnect WiFi audio streaming, the adult changing table, and the printed Sensory Guides. To request accommodations call Guest Services on 412-456-6666, with at least two weeks notice for anything needing coordination such as sign language interpretation, captioning, or audio description.
Accessible Seating (Theater)	Yes	Yes	Wheelchair accessible seating is located on the orchestra level. Accessible seating can be bought online, by phone, or in person, and seating needs should be given at the time of purchase so the Trust can accommodate the request.	Unlike the Benedum Center, the Trust does not publish a wheelchair platform location, a party size limit, or specific accessible seat numbers for the Byham, and the Byham seating chart does not mark accessible positions. If the size of your party or the exact location matters, call Guest Services on 412-456-6666 before booking rather than choosing seats online.

Location

101 6th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Getting To and From

Find essential details on parking, drop-off points, and accessibility to make your visit smooth and hassle-free.
Check the table below for more information.

Features	Information Available on Website	Available at Venue	Notes	Additional Info / Things to Know
On Site Parking Garage or Lot	Yes	No	The Byham Theater has no parking garage or lot at the theater itself. The Trust offers pre-paid parking at two separate garages, the Theater Square Garage and the K&L Gates Center Garage, both at their own addresses nearby. The Cultural District also has many lots, garages, and street parking, with most parking areas just blocks from any of the Trust's theaters.
Drop Off/Pick Up Lanes/ Ride Share	Yes	Yes	Patrons are always welcome to drop off and pick up directly in front of the doors of any Pittsburgh Cultural Trust theater or gallery, including the Byham. Curbside wheelchair assistance is available upon arrival. Lyft is the Official Rideshare Partner of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.	Public transport reaches the Cultural District by Port Authority bus, the T light rail, and the inclines. Port Authority buses are free for travel within the downtown zone until 7 p.m., and the T is always free downtown. Trip planning is at the Port Authority online Trip Planner or on 412-442-2000. Guests arriving by motorcoach or school bus should read the Trust's published bus parking tips.
Off site Parking	Yes	Yes	Two garages take Trust pre-paid parking, both operated by Alco Parking. Theater Square Garage: 667 Penn Avenue, GPS 120 7th Street, $20 pre-paid, open 24 hours seven days, clearance 7 feet 2 inches, and 16 accessible spaces. K&L Gates Center Garage: 210 Sixth Avenue, GPS 589 Wood Street, $15 pre-paid, open 24 hours seven days, clearance 6 feet 3 inches, maximum vehicle length 12 feet.	Accessible spaces are given a number only for the Theater Square Garage, and the Trust describes that garage as close to the Benedum Center and the O'Reilly Theater rather than the Byham. No accessible space count is published for the K&L Gates Center Garage, which is the nearer of the two to Sixth Street. Add parking to any order by calling 412-456-6666 or during online checkout. ParkPGH, a Trust project, gives real-time garage information. Garage contact: Alco Parking on 412-323-4455.
Accessible Entrance	Yes	Yes	Curbside wheelchair assistance is available upon arrival at the theater doors. There is a ramp inside the Byham: the Trust's directions to the Byham Guest Services Device Center are up the ramp, past the first set of stairs, and to the right.	The Trust does not name a designated accessible entrance door for the Byham, and it does not say whether the street threshold is level. The entry vestibule is original to the 1904 building and keeps its mosaic tile floor. Call the Byham on 412-456-1350 or Guest Services on 412-456-6666 to confirm the route that suits you.
Site Map/Floorplan	Yes	Yes	A detailed seating chart PDF is published for the Byham Theater, covering the Orchestra Level, Mezzanine, Gallery, and Balcony, plus the small and large pit configurations. Unlike the Benedum chart, this one does not mark wheelchair or accessible seating positions, so it shows the layout but not where accessible seats sit.	The only items labelled Platform on this chart are speaker platforms, not wheelchair platforms. Do not read them as accessible seating.

Inside the Venue

Get to know what to expect indoors—from seating layouts to restrooms and concessions.

Features	Information Available on Website	Available at Venue	Notes	Additional Info / Things to Know
Dedicated Accessible Entrance	Yes	No	No separate or dedicated accessible entrance is described for the Byham. All guests use the main entrance on Sixth Street, with curbside wheelchair assistance offered on arrival.
Street Level Access and Automatic Doors	Yes		The Trust's only published description of the route inside is that the Byham Guest Services Device Center is up the ramp, past the first set of stairs, and to the right. So a ramp exists and at least one set of stairs sits on that route. No automatic doors are described at the Byham, and no statement is made about whether the street entrance is level.	Automatic doors are documented at the Benedum Center, not here. Because this is a 1904 building, do not assume the entrance matches the newer venues. Call the Byham on 412-456-1350 before the visit if a level threshold or a powered door matters to you.
Security Checkpoint	Yes	Yes	All guests are subject to a physical screening and inspection prior to entry, and this is in effect at the Byham Theater. Screening uses EVOLV contactless screening machines, which let guests walk through with their bags, coats, and permissible items. By presenting a ticket and entering, you consent to screening, and refusing it may result in denied entry.	Bag policy: one bag per guest, no larger than 16 by 16 by 8 inches. That covers purses, tote bags, duffel bags, suitcases, knapsacks, backpacks, packages, cartons, paper sacks, briefcases, portfolio cases, binocular cases, and camera equipment cases. Bags are subject to search and theatergoers may be asked to open their jackets before entering. Guests with prohibited items may return them to their vehicles, and unattended items left outside the doors are discarded. The 24 hour campus security desk is 412-456-2610.
Use of Mobility Aids	Yes	Yes	Curbside wheelchair assistance is available upon arrival. Service dogs and miniature horses are welcome in all of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's theaters and facilities. The Byham has its own Guest Services Device Center, up the ramp, past the first set of stairs, and to the right, where accessibility equipment is collected. Assistive listening devices are available at all venues for all performances on a first come, first served basis, and infrared assistive listening devices are in all theaters.	Also at the Byham: large print programs for most shows at the Guest Services Device Center, published Kulture City social stories for the venue, and a lactation room in Guest Services at the top of the Ramp Lobby on the main level. Note what is documented only at the Benedum Center and not here: Sennheiser MobileConnect WiFi audio streaming, the adult changing table, and the printed Sensory Guides. To request accommodations call Guest Services on 412-456-6666, with at least two weeks notice for anything needing coordination such as sign language interpretation, captioning, or audio description.
Accessible Seating (Theater)	Yes	Yes	Wheelchair accessible seating is located on the orchestra level. Accessible seating can be bought online, by phone, or in person, and seating needs should be given at the time of purchase so the Trust can accommodate the request.	Unlike the Benedum Center, the Trust does not publish a wheelchair platform location, a party size limit, or specific accessible seat numbers for the Byham, and the Byham seating chart does not mark accessible positions. If the size of your party or the exact location matters, call Guest Services on 412-456-6666 before booking rather than choosing seats online.

Onsite Accessibility

Learn about ramps, elevators, restrooms, and other accessible features available during your visit

Features	Information Available on Website	Available at Venue	Notes	Additional Info / Things to Know
Restrooms	Yes	Yes	Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the orchestra level. Further restrooms and the coat room sit in the lower lobby, which the elevator reaches. The theater's restrooms were rebuilt in the 1995 second phase of renovation.	The adult changing table in the Trust's system is at the Benedum Center, in its Clark Extension accessible restroom. It is not available at the Byham.
Elevators	Yes	Yes	The Byham Theater elevator is located at the top of the entrance lobby, to the left. Access is provided to the lower lobby, which holds the restrooms and coat room, and to the top of the balcony only. It does not serve every level, so the Mezzanine and Gallery levels shown on the seating chart are not listed as elevator-served.	This is the single biggest difference from the Benedum Center, whose elevator reaches all levels. Check which level your seats are on before you book. The elevator was added in the 1995 second phase of renovation to a building that opened in 1904.
On-Site Dining	Yes	Yes	Concessions are served at the Trust's theaters, and an allergen guide covering them is published, with named vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and nut free options. Coat checks are made available to suit weather conditions, and the Byham coat room is in the lower lobby, reached by the elevator.	Published options include cinnamon roasted almonds, Boom Chicka Pop sweet and salty popcorn, soft pretzels, Skittles, Twizzler cherry nibs, sour patch watermelons, Smartfood white cheddar popcorn, Albanese gummy bears, Welch's fruit snacks, and Jolly Time popcorn. The two custom-built lowered ADA bars are documented at the Benedum Center, in the Grand Lobby and at the Patron Bar, and are not listed at the Byham.
Theater, Auditorium, etc. (Museum)	Yes	Yes	The Byham Theater is a 1,300-seat theater at 101 Sixth Street, home to a wide variety of performing arts including dance, music, theater, film, and family-friendly events held throughout the year. It opened as the Gayety Theater, became a stage and vaudeville house, was renamed The Fulton in the 1930s as a full time movie theater, reopened under the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in May 1991, and took the Byham name in 1995 after a gift from William C. and Carolyn M. Byham.	The Byham box office is only open during performances, opens two hours before curtain time, and stays open for 30 minutes into the show; at other times use the Theater Square Box Office. A backstage video tour of the theater made with NEXT Pittsburgh is published on the venue page. Phone numbers: Byham Theater 412-456-1350, Cultural District Guest Services 412-456-6666, and the 24 hour campus security desk 412-456-2610.

Our Guidelines

1. Make Accessibility Info Easy to Find - Dedicated Website Accessibility Page

Clearly post detailed accessibility information online, covering parking, entrances, interior pathways, site plans, and more.

2. Include All Mobility Devices

Consider walkers, canes, crutches — not just wheelchairs. Provide specifics for a variety of mobility needs. Include people who use different devices in the conversation.

3. Go Beyond ADA Compliance

ADA is the minimum. Strive for real-world accessibility through thoughtful design and ongoing improvements.

4. Visibility = Accessibility

If disabled visitors aren't present, barriers may exist. Transparency and preparation are the keys to inclusion. Empower everyone to attend.

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Getting To and From

Inside the Venue