The Lobero Theatre

The Lobero Theatre is the oldest continuously operating theater in California, founded as an opera house in 1873 and rebuilt in 1924 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style that defines downtown Santa Barbara. Its 604 seats make it intimate enough for a solo acoustic performer yet fully equipped for amplified bands, dance, and theater. The Lobero is especially beloved for jazz, and its year-round calendar also spans folk, Americana, classical, opera, and singer-songwriters. Musicians frequently name it among their favorite rooms to play. Every seat feels close to the stage, and the history in the walls makes any show feel like an occasion.