The news that Trevor Noah is leaving The Daily Show has created renewed interest in tickets to late night TV shows, including The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Here’s how to get FREE tickets to be in the audience, including for standby tickets.

Some rules first –

Dress appropriately, since you might be on TV during audience shots. All late night TV shows reserve the right to deny you admission, even with a ticket, if you are dressed inappropriately for TV or appear to be “under the influence”.

ecoXplorer Insider Tip:

As a former TV News reporter (for WABC-TV Eyewitness News in NYC), Evelyn Kanter knows that that TV studios are normally kept cold, between 55 and 65 degrees, to compensate for the hot lights.
So this word of advice – bring a sweater or light jacket with you.

Expect airport-like security for some shows, including showing a valid photo ID with proof of age. Also expect to show proof of Covid vaccination.

Tickets to shows taped in NYC are FREE. Anybody who wants to sell you tickets to a late night TV show is scamming you.

Phones, tablets and other recording devices are permitted, but may not used during a taping.

You will be ejected from the audience for using an electronic device for any reason during a taping. Save your selfies or texting for before or after the taping.

Perhaps most important, there is no guarantee of admission even with a ticket, so do not book airline tickets based on attending a TV show taping.

How to Get Tickets to

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Daily Show with Rotating Guest Hosts

Saturday Night Live

Jimmy Fallon host of The Tonight Show on NBC sitting at a desk in front of a NYC backdrop — Photo via NBC

How to Get Tickets to

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

You can reserve free tickets online.

You will need to sign up on 1iota to apply for tickets. When you apply, you will be placed automatically onto a waiting list – which is not a ticket.

If your request is approved, you will be contacted through 1iota. If you are not notified, it means your request was not filled and you do not have tickets.

Click here to apply for tickets: Tonight Show Member Sign-Up.

All available dates are listed on the calendar, which you should also check regularly. Requests cannot be submitted for dates that are not posted on the calendar.

You can also stay posted on ticket release dates by following The Tonight Show’s official ticketing Twitter account @FallonTix.

Updated NBC Covid Policies

As of September 2022, Face Coverings/Masks and Vaccination are optional while inside the Peacock Lounge and Studio.

You must be at least 16 years old at time of taping to attend. No one under the age of 16 will be admitted into the show, regardless if a parent or guardian is present. Everyone must present a valid photo I.D. containing date of birth upon arrival.

More Audience Info

All tickets are complimentary and may not be sold or auctioned. Please email tickets@tonightshow.com if you are being asked to provide payment for tickets.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and NBC reserve the right to revoke any ticket believed to have been purchased or sold. Any ticket may be revoked at any time at the discretion of show personnel.

Standby Tickets

Standby cards are now available in the Shop at NBC Studios, located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (via the 6th Avenue entrance between 49th & 50th st.).

Cards are distributed from 10am – 3pm EST the morning of a show.

Standby cards are limited to one per person and are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Standby cards do not guarantee admission.

Where to Eat in Times Square/Theater District

at Local Restaurants Not National Chains

Parts of this article were published originally on my website NYC on the Cheap, which was hacked and destroyed in February 2022.

It has been updated for publication here on ecoXplorer.com. Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.