American Airlines Center Honored as one of Billboard's Top 2026 Music Venues

Drawing on both editorial insight and hard data from Billboard Boxscore, this

report identifies 28 venues that define the live-music experience today — the

rooms that artists dream of playing and fans flock to for unforgettable nights.

From stadiums and arenas to open-air amphitheaters and intimate clubs, these

picks are organized by region and venue type, with special nods to fan-favorite

spots that give each city its own pulse. Think of it as a guided tour of the places

where sound, setting and community collide — the stages that turn concerts into

memories and local music scenes into legends.

Gross and attendance figures, where included, reflect numbers reported to

Billboard Boxscore from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025.

Top Central U.S. Arena

American Airlines Center (Dallas)

20,020 capacity

American Airlines Center serves fans in one of the nation’s most powerful

concert markets. Dallas has become a must-play stop for major tours and the

AAC sits at the center of that boom. In the past year, the arena has hosted Dua

Lipa, Mexican rock band Maná, Tate McRae and more top-tier acts.

The arena combines modern design with fan-friendly comfort, featuring sleek

interiors, premium suites and pristine acoustics. Touring pros praise its smooth

load-ins, reliable rigging and efficient production layout. Surrounded by bars,

restaurants and the city’s arts district, the arena embodies the energy of a

thriving live-music city.

Access the full article on Billboard here.