Overview
East Sixth Street in downtown Austin is the city's best-known entertainment district. Its blocks of 19th-century commercial buildings now house bars, clubs and live music venues, which helped earn Austin the nickname "Live Music Capital of the World".
History
Sixth Street was originally named Pecan Street, after one of the city's early tree-named streets. It grew into Austin's main commercial street in the late 1800s, and many of its Victorian-era storefronts survive. A section of the street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
Today
Sixth Street is a center of Austin's nightlife and of events such as South by Southwest (SXSW), and it is closed to traffic on busy nights. Its crowds make it one of the most heavily staffed areas for venue and event security in the city.
Compiled October 2026. History is summarized for general interest; check primary sources for research. This landmark is local context, not an employer or job listing.