House show at Fishbowl Live in Cincinnati on Feb. 20, 2026.
Fishbowl Live, a popular Clifton house show venue, has announced it will soon close its doors. Organizers say they are currently shutting down the location and have canceled all future shows, according to a social media post on March 14, 2026.
“We have decided our beloved audience has outgrown the venue and has become a disruption to the neighborhood,” the statement read. “We are deeply grateful to the community that supports the Fishbowl and want to thank you for the memories.”
Located at 3059 Taylor Avenue, the Fishbowl’s backyard stage has enjoyed popular status as a hub for Cincinnati’s house music scene. The venue held its first show in November 2024 and has since attracted audiences of up to 1,000 people. Organizers say Fishbowl shows have raised over $6,000 in ticket sales for donation to local charities.
“We owe the extraordinary environment at the Fishbowl to you, our audience,” said Fishbowl organizer and UC fourth-year architecture major Sam Wittmann. “You have all been a vivid expression of the vibrance, enthusiasm, and passion of Clifton’s youth. We tackled every challenge that came with running this venue to cultivate the exuberant spirit of Cincinnati. This house has always been a home to us, but without you, it would never have been the Fishbowl.”
The announcement also said that information will soon be available for audience members looking to support the Fishbowl.
“I don’t know what the future holds for us right now, but we want everyone to keep this amazing community alive by continuing to support DIY music,” said Fishbowl organizer and UC third-year construction management major Boston Hammond. “We need to protect these inclusive spaces as much as we possibly can, everyone deserves a safe space to support local artists, and we look forward to seeing what precedes us.”