Hiptix is not a lottery. That’s the first thing to know. You don’t enter a random drawing and hope — you join a free membership program and then buy $30 tickets to any Roundabout Theatre Company show whenever you want, in advance, without luck involved. It’s one of the best deals in New York theater, and most people under 40 don’t know it exists. (Current for the 2026 season.)
What is Hiptix?
Hiptix is Roundabout Theatre Company’s discount membership program for theatergoers ages 18 to 40. Roundabout is one of the largest nonprofit theater companies in the country — they produce 5–8 shows a year across four Manhattan venues. Hiptix gives members $30 access to all of them.
It’s free to join. You sign up, verify your age once, and you’re in. No drawing, no app, no refresh-at-midnight. You log into your account, find a show you want, and buy tickets at $30 each — up to 2 per production.
How to join and use it
- Go to roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/hiptix
- Create a free account. You’ll need to verify your age (18–40) — a photo of your ID is typically sufficient.
- Once verified, you can buy $30 tickets to any current Roundabout production.
- Up to 2 tickets per production. Good news for 2026: your guest can be any age — the age requirement applies to the account holder, not the second seat.
- Pick up at the box office with your ID. Some performances allow mobile ticketing — check your confirmation.
What it costs
$30 per ticket, purchased in advance (that price includes a $2 facility fee). Roundabout reserves a limited number of Hiptix seats for each performance — usually in the mezzanine or balcony — and may release more closer to the performance date. Popular titles and weekends go first, so don’t wait.
Hiptix Gold
If you go to Roundabout often, Hiptix Gold is the upgrade. It’s a Friends of Roundabout membership starting at a $100 annual donation, and it gets you two $30 rear-orchestra or mezzanine/balcony seats per production, pre-sale access to buy before the general public, and invitations to select donor events (play readings, screenings, panels). Note the shift from years past: the ticket price is the same $30 as standard Hiptix now — what Gold buys you is better seats and first crack at availability, plus the fact that the donation supports a nonprofit and is tax-deductible. If you routinely miss out because seats sell before you log in, that pre-sale window is the whole point.
Which venues and shows
Roundabout produces at four Manhattan venues:
- Todd Haimes Theatre (formerly the American Airlines Theatre) — 227 W 42nd St, Midtown
- Studio 54 — 254 W 54th St, when Roundabout is in residence
- Laura Pels Theatre — 111 W 46th St, smaller productions
- Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center — 111 W 46th St
Shows currently using Hiptix
- The Rocky Horror Show — Studio 54. $25
- The Imaginary Invalid — Todd Haimes Theatre. $25. Opens Sep 25
- Mix and Master — Todd Haimes Theatre. $25
- The Full Monty — Todd Haimes Theatre. $25
Tips
Book early, not day-of. Hiptix seats go on sale in advance — this isn’t a day-of lottery. The closer you get to the performance, the fewer Hiptix seats remain. For popular shows or weekend performances, check availability 1–2 weeks out.
Bring whoever you want. As of 2026, your guest can be any age — you just need to be 18–40 yourself, and you’ll show your ID at the box office. (This is new; older guides still say both seats have to be under 35. They don’t.)
Do the math on Gold if you’re a regular. Gold no longer makes the ticket cheaper — it’s $30 either way — so the upgrade is about seats and access, not price. If you see Roundabout several times a year and keep getting shut out of good seats, the $100 membership (pre-sale + rear orchestra) earns its keep. If you go once or twice, standard Hiptix is all you need.
Roundabout plays are the good ones. Roundabout is a Tony-winning nonprofit — they consistently produce serious work, not tourist fare. The Hiptix catalog includes revivals and new plays that draw top-tier casts. This is the deal you use to see the show everyone in the industry is talking about for $30.
How Hiptix compares to lotteries
Lotteries are random. Hiptix is not. You decide when to go, you buy the ticket, done. The trade-off is that you’re limited to Roundabout shows — you can’t use Hiptix for Wicked or Hamilton. But for the 5–8 Roundabout productions a year, this is simply the better deal: predictable access, better seat selection, and no refreshing an app at midnight.
If you’re under 40 and you don’t have a Hiptix account, fix that today.
Other under-40 theater discounts worth knowing
Hiptix only covers Roundabout. If you’re a young theatergoer in New York, a few other companies run their own under-40 deals worth signing up for. Prices and age caps change, so confirm the current terms on each program’s page:
- LincTix — Lincoln Center Theater’s discount program for younger theatergoers. lct.org/linctix
- 30 Under 35 (Manhattan Theatre Club) — $30 tickets to MTC productions for theatergoers under 35. manhattantheatreclub.com
- TDF membership — discounted tickets across a wide range of NYC theater, dance, and music for those who qualify (students, teachers, union members, and more). tdf.org
- 20at20 — $20 Off-Broadway tickets, 20 minutes before showtime, during the twice-yearly promotion. 20at20.com
Hiptix FAQ (2026)
How old do you have to be for Hiptix?
Hiptix is open to theatergoers ages 18 to 40. Your guest can be any age.
How much are Hiptix tickets?
$30 per ticket, which includes a $2 facility fee. You can buy up to 2 tickets per production.
Is Hiptix free to join?
Yes. Membership is free — you create an account and verify your age once, and there’s no annual fee.
Is Hiptix a lottery?
No. Unlike a rush or lottery, you buy Hiptix seats in advance at a set $30 price. No drawing and no luck involved.
Which shows can I use Hiptix for?
Any current Roundabout Theatre Company production across their Manhattan venues. It can’t be used for non-Roundabout shows like Wicked or Hamilton.
What is Hiptix Gold?
A Friends of Roundabout membership starting at a $100 annual donation. It adds pre-sale access and better seat categories (rear orchestra or mezzanine/balcony) at the same $30 ticket price, plus donor-event invitations.
Do I need to be a student?
No. Hiptix is based on age (18 to 40), not student status — anyone in that range can join.
More resources
For a full breakdown of all four lottery and discount platforms — Lucky Seat, Broadway Direct, Telecharge, and Hiptix — see Broadway Lottery Platforms Explained.
For the full strategy guide on winning Broadway lotteries, read How to Win Every Broadway Lottery in 2026.
Every show with an active lottery or discount ticket program is listed at our Broadway Lottery Tickets hub.
Keep reading
- The best Broadway lottery odds right now
- Which Broadway lottery is easiest to win?
- How to win every Broadway lottery
- Every lottery platform, explained
