10 min read
We’ve collected examples of the best websites from theatres, arts centres, museums, venues, and attractions across the globe.
How do you build the best website to sell tickets for an event?
Well, you start by taking inspiration from organisations similar to your own. Leading cultural organisations and web agencies have shared their most exciting innovations in online ticket sales, to help inspire your own website improvements. Read on to learn how you could take audience experience to another level!
There are many great reasons to improve your website. First, it's a vital source of revenue - not only from ticket sales, but from merchandise, concessions, philanthropy, subscriptions, memberships, and more. With targeted, relevant upsells, you can help audience members understand the full scope of your offer, and massively increase the value of every basket.
Those upsells don't only benefit your organisation. Often, audiences want to make an evening out even more special, to know how they could save money, or to see personalised recommendations of events they might enjoy.
In this blog, we focus on those two priorities:
Focus on User Experience:
- Queens Theatre, New York: Balancing brand identity with modern, responsive design
- Discover Children’s Story Centre, London: Workshops and wow factor
- Symphony Space, Manhattan: Creating a more connected online journey
- Perelman Performing Arts Center, New York: Building an accessible booking experience
- Warwick Arts Centre, England: Data-driven improvements and information flow
Focus on: Boosting Revenue Streams
- Cheltenham Festivals, England: Bulk-buy events from customer wishlists
- Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Alberta: Growing online merchandise sales
- The Cabot, Massachusetts: Multi-tier memberships and referrals
If you're just getting started with a website improvement project, or you're still exploring the right level of investment, explore more of our guidance to help you create a great ticketing site for arts, culture, or events.
If you're looking for inspiration and live examples of our favourite sites, you're in the right place!
All of these organisations have identified exactly what they and their audience members need from their website, and worked with experienced web developers to design solutions that are specific to their needs. Using the Spektrix API, they can sync site pages with all the customer data they need to build powerful, personalised solutions.
Take a look, and imagine how these ideas and more could create the best event website for your organisation. The possibilities are endless!
Focus on: User Experience
Queens Theatre: Balancing brand identity with modern, responsive design
Built by CultureSuite
Queens Theatre is an historic Worlds Fair venue in Queens, New York, committed to preserving cultural heritage whilst managing a contemporary event website for today’s audiences.
Working with cultural website partners CultureSuite, Queens Theatre implemented a new website alongside their move to Spektrix in 2024. Now, it’s quick and efficient for the team to manage event information online and through onsite digital signage, using a single content management system. They’ve kept their brand identity front and centre, showcasing their heritage, events, and nonprofit status; and they’ve enhanced the online experience for patrons with a more responsive site interface for smartphones and tablets.
How does this work?
CultureSuite implemented their Peppered CMS platform using a carefully planned ‘lift and shift’ approach that preserved Queens Theatre's established brand identity while upgrading functionality. The project included design and content migration, built around custom-designed content modules allowing team members to build page layouts without technical expertise; and events information synchronised between the site, event management systems, and digital signage.
This approach ensured a smooth transition with no disruption to operations, while providing Queens Theatre with a futureproof platform that continues to evolve through regular updates.
What’s the impact?
"What used to take our team days now happens in minutes," notes Jay Rogers, Director of Operations. "This lets us focus on creating exceptional experiences for our diverse Queens community."
Ticket sales in 2024 - when Queens Theatre switched to Spektrix and launched their new website - were 40% higher than the previous year. The brand, programme, and sales journey is working for audiences in Queens!
Discover Children’s Story Centre: Workshops and wow factor
Built by Cog Design
Discover Children’s Story Centre in London is a space for 0-11 year olds and their grownups to play, create, and discover. Visitors select a date to explore the centre, then tailor the day with a selection of workshops and activities, from storytelling to discovery trails and immersive funfairs.
Discover have worked with Cog Design since 2019, starting with workshops and discussions to understand the unique needs of young audiences and busy parents. They prioritised responsive design, for easy booking on mobile; cross-team collaboration to promote both ticket income and donations; and of course wow factor, to build excitement for a great day out.
How does it work?
This solution draws on the Spektrix API with tools built specifically by Cog to sort through ticketing details, reveal availability, and match up bookings across different events - a complex behind-the-scenes setup that’s simple and intuitive for customers and box office teams.
What’s the impact?
The new website transformed the way that people booked tickets for Discover, growing overall attendance whilst reducing phone calls to the team. And with greater visibility for charitable messaging, online donations grew by 600% - building vital revenue for the future.
Symphony Space: Creating a more connected online journey
Built by Eyekiller
Symphony Space, a vibrant performing arts centre on Manhattan's Upper West Side, showcases an eclectic mix of theatre, film, literature, music, dance, and family entertainment, making it a cultural hub for diverse audiences.
In 2018, Symphony Space partnered with Eyekiller to reimagine their digital presence ahead of the venue’s 40th anniversary. Since then, the partnership has continued to evolve, with Eyekiller acting as a long-term digital partner — delivering a digital platform that reflects the organisation’s creative spirit, streamlines the audience experience, and maximises revenue through a tailored Spektrix integration.
With a packed programme of live events, livestreams, and a tiered membership scheme ranging from $75 to $10,000, the website plays a central role in ticket sales, philanthropy, and supporter engagement — all delivered through an accessible, responsive design that puts user experience first.
With a varied calendar of live events and livestreaming, and a multi-tier membership programme ranging from $100 to $10,000, the Symphony Space website plays an important role in ticket buying, streaming, and philanthropy - all packaged within an attractive, easily navigable, responsive layout.
How does this work?
Eyekiller designed the site using Craft CMS and their custom Spektrix API integration. This setup connects both platforms to sync event and performance data in real time, ensuring the site is always up to date, reducing admin, and helping drive ticket sales.
From intuitive browsing and ticket purchases to flexible content management and live-stream tagging, the experience was crafted to support both audiences and internal teams.
Key improvements included:- Enhanced User Experience (UX) to facilitate seamless browsing and ticket booking
- Spektrix and Craft CMS integration allows for management of event programme and site-wide content
- Introduction of livestream events, seamlessly integrated with Spektrix customer accounts using auto-tagging
- Custom built Spektrix API Membership System providing clear visibility into the benefits of each membership option
What’s the impact?
Symphony Space and Eyekiller collaborated closely to create a digital platform that reflects the vibrancy of the venue - and delivers results. It's a powerful example of how thoughtful digital strategy, strong partnership and technical Spektrix integration can set the stage for long-term success.
Since launch, the site has driven:
41% increase in online sales
75% increase in website traffic
82% increase in mobile traffic
“Working with Eyekiller has been an incredible experience - they’re creative, responsive, and truly feel like partners. Despite the distance and time difference, collaboration was seamless from start to finish.”
Johanna Thomsen, Senior Director of Strategy & Engagement, Symphony Space
Perelman Performing Arts Center: Building an accessible booking experience
Built by Substrakt
PAC NYC (Perelman Performing Arts Center) is a bold new arts space in the heart of New York’s World Trade Center, and accessibility has been central to its mission from the beginning.
In 2023, PAC NYC partnered with digital agency Substrakt to launch a new website to accompany the opening of their building. Soon after, Substrakt implemented Viadukt, their accessible ticketing path integrated with Spektrix, to streamline online purchases.
Substrakt worked closely with PAC NYC to ensure that their new website is not just compliant with accessibility standards, but genuinely usable and welcoming to everyone. From discovery to launch and beyond, accessibility was treated as a core design and development priority, including when accessibility consultants Equal Entry conducted a full audit of the site.
How does it work?
The website was developed using the Spektrix API to create a custom booking journey tailored to all users. Substrakt conducted extensive testing, including audits with Equal Entry, to identify potential issues and improve the site iteratively based on real user feedback. Accessibility wasn’t seen as a post-launch priority or a one-time checklist, it was embedded into every stage of the project.
The result is a digital experience that goes beyond WCAG compliance - from link labeling and keyboard focus to accessible donation flows and meaningful content structure. The site empowers all users, including those using assistive technologies, to confidently browse, book and engage with PAC NYC’s programme.
What's the impact?
By prioritising accessibility as a goal rather than a requirement, PAC NYC and Substrakt have created a website that’s better for everyone - faster, clearer and easier to use, regardless of device or ability.
“In order to provide and maintain an accessible experience, we partnered with Substrakt and Equal Entry to implement best practices and incorporate accessibility review in our iterative process. By making accessibility an explicit goal, we’ve delivered a better experience for everyone.” Leo Bowen, Digital Product Manager at PAC NYC
All of this work has resulted in a thoughtful, intuitive, and inclusive online experience that reflects the values of the organisation - and makes it easier than ever for everyone to connect with PAC NYC’s programme.
PAC NYC’s approach sets a benchmark for cultural organisations aiming to offer genuinely inclusive digital journeys.
Warwick Arts Centre: Data-driven improvements and information flow
Built by Grandad Digital
Warwick Arts Centre is one of the UK’s largest multi-artform hubs, bringing together people from the University of Warwick and the wider arts community.
A lasting, 5+ year partnership with Grandad Digital has shown them the value of continually improving their website to better meet audiences’ needs. That started with a restructure to create streamlined, accessible user journeys. Later, in response to ongoing research and testing, they added a custom basket - creating a more personalised, on-brand experience, with a focus on clarity of information and targeted upsells.
How does it work?
The main site, built with Grandad’s CMS, YouCreate, uses the latest version of the Spektrix API to integrate event and performance data directly into catalogue and event pages, and to drive the custom basket experience. Spektrix iFrames are still used, but only for seat select and checkout. This mixing and matching of iframe and API integration tools allowed Grandad to balance impact and affordability for Warwick.
What’s the impact?
When the custom basket went live, Warwick Arts Centre saw a 35% increase in revenue via the website within a single quarter - building revenue for the centre and efficiencies for the box office team.
Focus on: Boosting Revenue Streams
Cheltenham Festivals: Bulk-buy events from customer wishlists
Built by Supercool
Cheltenham Festivals in Gloucestershire, England, produce inclusive festivals and projects focusing on music, science, and the spoken and written word.
Their largest festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival, includes over 400 events spread over 10 days, with tickets in high demand. In the past, customers might have circled the events that caught their eye in a paper brochure. Today, they need the digital equivalent - and that’s where they worked with web developers Supercool to create a Wishlist feature.
Customers can ‘favourite’ the events they fancy - and when they’ve curated their list, they can bulk-buy those events, add them to a basket, and complete the transaction with the fewest possible clicks.
How does it work?
This solution uses the Spektrix API, through which web developers like Supercool can customise powerful, bespoke journeys based on the unique needs of each organisation, in combination with Typesense, a powerful open source search engine. Account login is managed by Spektrix, with customers' saved events being stored against their customer ID in Typesense. When a customer logs in via their Spektrix account, their saved events are collected from Typesense and displayed on their device. Using Best Available seating plan overlays and the API, customers can purchase all of their events in one click.
What’s the impact?
After switching to Spektrix and implementing the Wishlist feature in 2023, Cheltenham Festivals more than doubled the proportion of sales completed within the first hour of launch. A robust web journey and intuitive tools meant hardly any customer complaints, and what feedback there was has informed a new, improved version to be rolled out in 2025.
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra: Growing online merchandise sales
Built by Sland Studios
Calgary Philharmonic is one of Canada’s most celebrated live music ensembles, welcoming over 100,000 annual visitors to events in spaces across the city.
The orchestra worked with web designers Sland Studios - also based in Calgary - to build a website for ticketing, subscriptions, and souvenirs from their popular online shop. Customers can choose memorabilia ranging from mugs and gift cards through to clothing, creating an important additional revenue stream to support the Philharmonic’s work.
How does this work?
Sland Studios built their own Wordpress plugin to facilitate bespoke integrations with Spektrix, and have used it to build seamless websites for arts organisations across Canada and the US. Listings, seat selection, and upsells are all on-brand, and events can be quickly labelled with information about ticket availability, cast listings, and sponsor details.
Merchandise is also sold from within Spektrix, with each item - including the various sizes of t-shirt and hoodie - set up in the backend as individual items. On the site, customers see a single listing with the option to select their preferred size, creating a smooth, contemporary purchase pathway.
What’s the impact?
In 2023, Calgary Philharmonic brought in almost $40,000 in merchandise sales - a vital revenue stream. And now it’s set up on their site, there’s only a little work to keep the money rolling in.
For their boutique range of items, Calgary Philharmonic are successfully managing merchandise sales directly through Spektrix. If merchandise is core to your revenue, Spektrix also supports integrations with point of sale systems and online shopping solutions like Shopify or Square - with every transaction recorded against a single customer record.
The Cabot: Multi-tier memberships and referrals
Built by Splitpixel
The Cabot is a stunning cinema, theatre and music venue in Beverley, Massachusetts, that focuses on building community through arts and social gatherings.
When the Cabot overhauled their membership scheme, they also wanted to present it more clearly on the site. Working with the team from Splitpixel, they designed a page featuring multiple colour-coded tier options, with choices to buy individual or joint memberships, set up auto-renewals, or select monthly or annual payments – and a Join Today button for every tier, taking new members straight to the basket to complete their purchase. Once users are members, they can also access private members-only content and events through the site.
How does this work?
The site’s built using Wordpress with the Spektrix API. Additional features built into the checkout flow include a custom referral field, asking new members how they learned about the Cabot’s memberships and storing that data in Spektrix to identify the venue’s best advocates. The Cabot team can also create members-only pages by assigning a specific account tag to a page or event post - only logged-in users with that tag on their account can access the content.
What’s the impact?
With around 1,500 active members, and philanthropic revenue worth four times the value of ticket sales, the Cabot can fully realise the benefits of its site - and demonstrate its importance to supporters and community members on the North Shore, and create premium experiences for its members.
Take your website to another level
All of these organisations recognised the vital importance of investing in the best event website to meet their specific needs. Wherever you are on that journey, Spektrix can help you explore more great examples, understand different approaches to managing online event ticket sales, and evaluate your existing site performance.
- Evaluate your existing website. Identify what’s working well, and where there’s room for improvement.
- Get started with your new or improved arts website. Develop a brief, and workshop ideas with your team.
- Make a case for investment. Help budget holders understand the importance of ongoing, data-driven website improvements.
- Ensure your site welcomes everyone. Prioritise accessibility, and everyone’s experience improves.
Need more advice or support?
- If you’re already using Spektrix, reach out to the support team for a conversation about your technical setup, web dev partnership, or website strategy.
- If you’re not yet using Spektrix, learn how you could be up and running with a new, improved website and purchase pathway within a few months.
Nina Primeraki (she/her) is Client Integrations Lead at Spektrix