What does "curfew" mean in the context of a concert?

I am going to buy a ticket for a concert, and the show description says:

  • Door time: 7pm
  • Curfew: 10pm

I was thinking that curfew means the latest time you can access the venue, is this correct?
Or does it mean the time the concert will finish?


Literally it means "A regulation requiring certain or all people to leave the streets or be at home at a prescribed hour" or "the time at which such a restriction begins or is in effect"Merriam-Webster usually because of political instability in a certain country or province. Here, in the context of a concert it means:

Everybody out by 10.00 pm.

That is, the concert is suposed to be over by 10 pm.


It's the time that the performers are supposed to be finished performing. (They may finish earlier.) This is because of noise ordinances.

Alternative Press explains:

Perhaps one of the biggest rules is the concert curfew. According to AVIXA, concerts are Red Rocks are under a very strict noise restriction after a certain time.

The issue came to a head in 2013, when residents voiced their concerns at town meetings, focusing on the increased volume of bass sound being emitted during EDM shows, as that genre grew in popularity during the decade. The venue enacted new rules, setting a limit of 105 dBA after midnight on weekdays and an hour later on weekends. Exceeding those limits could result in fines of up to $10,000 per occurrence.

This Fader article gives another example where a curfew was broken:

American Airlines Center charges a $6,500 fine for every 15 minutes after curfew and Drake left the stage at 12:35 p.m., meaning the overtime cost him $13,000 in total.

See also Curfew no issue as Rolling Stones rock Levi’s Stadium till 11 p.m.