Readers' Choice 2026
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Best Music Venue: Showbox
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.
Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, the Ramones, Pearl Jam, Prince, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, and the Foo Fighters have all taken the stage at the Showbox. Open since 1939, the ballroom across from Pike Place Market has lived through nearly every chapter of Seattle music, while welcoming generations of touring acts along the way. More than 85 years later, its sultry deco-style details and oak dance floor remain, and the room still holds just over 1,000 people—small enough to get close to a big name or discover the next one. There certainly are newer venues, bigger stages, and fancier spots, but there’s nothing quite like the Showbox.
Runner Up: Climate Pledge Arena
About Readers' Choice 2026
Once a year, we turn the tables and ask our readers about their favorite local spots. The neighborhood café with the best coffee, the restaurant you book for every special occasion, and where you send out-of-town guests for top-tier cocktails. Seattleites have opinions, and they shared them with us. This year, we received more votes than ever before, with some familiar favorites returning and plenty of new names making the list.
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