Austin's Paramount Theatre and its neighbour, the State Theatre, are about to get their most ambitious upgrades in decades. The Paramount will close in June 2026 for a full restoration that includes swapping out all 1,200 seats, expanding restrooms and finally building a long-planned third-floor lounge. Across the alley, the State is set for a full reimagining, with flexible seating, a basement speakeasy and a rooftop deck anchoring a citywide fundraising push.
In a press release via Austin Theatre Alliance, the nonprofit that runs both venues said it has launched the SHINE ON capital campaign with a $65 million goal (including $55 million for construction and $10 million for an endowment), and that $27 million has already come in through early gifts. The alliance said the Paramount will go dark beginning in June 2026 for roughly eight to nine months, with the State's renovation expected to follow and last about 13 to 16 months. We "need Austin’s help to make sure they ‘shine on, ’" Jim Ritts, the alliance's CEO and executive director, said in the release.
Century-Old Stages, Modern Needs
The Paramount opened on Congress Avenue in October 1915 and is one of a small number of U.S. theatres more than a century old that are still in operation. The State opened about 20 years later, and the two venues merged operations in 2000. Together they now host more than 500 events a year, from the Moontower Comedy Festival to film premieres during SXSW and the Austin Film Festival, a workload the alliance says makes their preservation crucial for downtown's cultural life. As reported by KUT, the announcement casts the project as both a preservation effort and a modernization push.
What The Renovation Will Actually Do
According to Austin Theatre Alliance, work at the Paramount will restore interior paint, plaster molding and chandeliers while updating wiring, sound and lighting behind historic finishes. Plans call for new custom-designed seating and improved aisle lighting for better sightlines and safety, along with better ADA access that includes elevator capabilities and expanded restrooms and concessions. A third-floor event space, JP’s Peace, Love, and Happiness Lounge, will finally be built out in a spot that appeared on the theatre's original 1915 blueprints. At the State, the overhaul will lean on its Art Deco facade to guide a full interior remake, add a shared elevator and bring in telescopic seating and new hospitality spaces meant to serve local arts groups in more flexible ways.
Keeping Austin's Nights Alive
The alliance says audiences will not lose out on shows while all this happens. Paramount-produced events will move to other venues, and the Stateside will pick up additional programming during the closure. Artisans from EverGreene are already hand restoring portions of the Paramount's lobby and ceiling, giving patrons a preview of the craftwork before the full shutdown, according to KUT. Organizers also say the State's flexible configuration is intended to make it easier for small arts nonprofits to rent affordable, reliable downtown performance space.
Backers are pitching the SHINE ON campaign as a way to protect Austin's theatrical heritage while upgrading the experience for artists and audiences. Donor perks outlined by the alliance include recognition, naming opportunities and hard hat tours. If fundraising hits its target, downtown Austin stands to gain both restored historic character and new, more adaptable performance spaces.
