The State of the Union address takes place in the House of Representatives chamber in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., during a joint session of Congress.

Quick Scoop: Where It Happens

  • The modern State of the Union is customarily held in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol.
  • Both the House and Senate meet there together in a formal joint session to hear the president speak.
  • This tradition has been in place since the nation’s capital moved to Washington, D.C., and has continued into the present day.

So if you picture it: it’s that large House chamber you see on TV, with the president at the front podium, and the vice president and speaker seated behind.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.