Tiny Desk Concerts are filmed at NPR’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., inside the NPR Music office behind (and around) Bob Boilen’s former desk in the newsroom.

Quick Scoop: Where Tiny Desk Is Filmed

  • The main Tiny Desk set is located at National Public Radio (NPR) headquarters in Washington, D.C.
  • Performances take place in the NPR newsroom, built around the actual desk that belonged to Bob Boilen, the creator and longtime host of the series.
  • The space is small and intimate, with shelves of records, books, knick‑knacks and office clutter forming the signature background behind the artists.
  • Concerts are typically recorded during the workday, with NPR staff often watching just a few feet away, which adds to the informal “office performance” vibe.

During the pandemic era, the show temporarily shifted to “Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts,” filmed by artists in their own spaces, but it has since returned to the Washington, D.C. newsroom setup as its primary filming location.

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