Ever found yourself screaming at the TV because a contestant said something totally absurd? We've all been there. It’s part of the magic. But while you’re busy judging a stranger's "Survey Says" fail, have you ever looked at the bright lights and the sleek podiums and wondered exactly where Family Feud filmed? It’s not just one spot. Honestly, the show has a bit of a nomadic history.
Steve Harvey makes it look like he’s just hanging out in his own living room, but the production is a massive, well-oiled machine that has hopped across the country more than a few times. From the early days of Richard Dawson to the current Harvey era, the studio locations tell a story of tax incentives, logistical nightmares, and the sheer scale of modern syndication.
The Current Home Base: Atlanta and Beyond
If you're looking for the heart of the action right now, you have to look South. Specifically, Georgia. For a significant chunk of the last decade, Family Feud has been a staple of the Atlanta film scene. It makes sense. Georgia’s tax credits are basically legendary in the entertainment industry, making it the "Hollywood of the South."
Most recently, the show has been taping at Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood) in Fayetteville, just outside of Atlanta. If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s the same place where Marvel movies are born. Imagine Steve Harvey cracking jokes in one studio while a superhero is getting fitted for a cape next door. It’s a surreal mental image, but it’s the reality of modern television production.
Before the move to Trilith, the show spent a lot of time at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. They basically built a massive, high-tech bubble inside a convention center. It worked, but the move to a dedicated film studio like Trilith offers more control over acoustics and the massive crowds that flock to see Steve in person.
Why Atlanta?
Money. Pure and simple. But it's also about the vibe. Atlanta has a deep pool of production talent and an audience that brings a specific kind of energy. If you've ever watched a taping, you know the crowd is essentially a character in the show. The producers need people who are loud, engaged, and willing to clap for eight hours straight. Atlanta delivers that in spades.
The Los Angeles Legacy
You can't talk about game shows without mentioning Southern California. It’s the DNA of the genre. For years, the answer to "where is Family Feud filmed?" was almost always a studio in the 90028 zip code.
The show has spent considerable time at CBS Television City in Los Angeles. This is hallowed ground. We’re talking about the same hallways where The Price Is Right has lived for decades. There’s a certain smell to these old studios—a mix of floor wax, stage makeup, and history.
Then there’s the Burbank Studios. In the early 2000s, during the Richard Karn and John O’Hurley eras, the show bounced around various lots in the Valley.
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- Tribune Studios (now Sunset Bronson Studios) hosted the show for a stretch.
- NBC Studios in Burbank saw its fair share of "Fast Money" rounds.
But here’s the thing: L.A. is expensive. Even for a hit show. As the industry shifted, the production looked for ways to stay profitable without sacrificing the "bigness" of the set. That’s how we ended up with the great migration to other states.
The Orlando Era: A Weird Detour
Wait, Florida? Yep.
For a minute there, specifically around 2010 and 2011, the show packed up its survey boards and headed to Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. It was a strategic move to tap into the tourist market. If you were on vacation at a theme park, you could suddenly find yourself sitting in the audience of one of the biggest game shows on earth.
It was a vibe shift. The energy of a theme park crowd is different from a local studio audience. People are tired from walking, they’re sunburned, but they’re also incredibly excited to be there. However, the Orlando stint was relatively short-lived compared to the long-standing runs in California and Georgia. It felt like a summer camp for the production crew before they eventually settled back into a more permanent rhythm elsewhere.
What About Celebrity Family Feud?
This is where it gets a little confusing for the casual viewer. Family Feud (the syndicated version) and Celebrity Family Feud (the ABC primetime version) aren't always filmed in the same place at the same time.
While the "civilian" version was soaking up the Georgia sun, the celebrity version often stayed closer to the stars. That usually meant filming at ABC Prospect Studios or other major lots in Los Angeles. Why? Because getting a Kardashian or a cast of a hit sitcom to fly to Atlanta for a one-day taping is a logistical nightmare.
If the talent is in L.A., you film in L.A.
Sometimes, the production will "block shoot." This is a fancy industry term for "filming a bajillion episodes in a very short window." They’ll set up the stage, fly Steve Harvey in, and knock out several weeks' worth of television in a matter of days. It’s grueling for the crew but efficient for the budget.
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The "Survey Says" Reality of the Set
Walking onto the set of Family Feud is a trip. If you ever get the chance to be in the audience, do it. But be prepared for the reality of TV magic.
The set is smaller than it looks on camera. Lenses do a lot of heavy lifting to make that stage look like a cavernous arena. In reality, the families are standing quite close to Steve, and the "big" screen showing the answers is a specialized LED array that can be finicky.
The lighting is also incredibly hot. To get that crisp, high-definition look, the studio is blasted with light. Even with the air conditioning cranked up, it gets toasty. This is why you’ll often see Steve Harvey dabbing his forehead or cracking jokes about the temperature. He’s not kidding.
The COVID-19 Shift
We have to mention the 2020-2021 era because it changed everything temporarily. Like every other show, Family Feud had to pivot. For a while, the answer to where the show was filmed was "under strict quarantine protocols."
They moved production to a closed set in Atlanta with no audience. If you watch those episodes back, you can hear the difference. The "crowd" noise was often sweetened in post-production, or the few crew members on set were doing the work of 300 people. It lacked that raw energy, but it proved the show's resilience. It also solidified Atlanta as the show’s "forever home" for the foreseeable future.
Behind the Scenes Logistics
Ever wonder how the families get there? They don't just wander in off the street.
The production team holds massive auditions across the country. Once a family is selected, they are often flown to the filming location—usually Atlanta these days. The show typically covers the hotel and provides a small stipend, but it's not a luxury vacation. It’s a job. Families are often at the studio by 8:00 AM and might not leave until the evening, depending on where they fall in the taping schedule.
There's a "holding room" where families wait. It’s filled with snacks, nervous energy, and a production assistant who is essentially a professional hype-man. Their job is to keep the energy levels at an 11. If you're boring, you don't get on camera. It doesn't matter how many right answers you know; if you don't "play" the game with enthusiasm, the producers will swap you out for a more vibrant family.
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Specific Studio Timeline
If you're a stickler for details, here’s a rough breakdown of the major filming hubs over the years:
- ABC Television Center (Los Angeles): The Richard Dawson years. Pure 70s and 80s nostalgia.
- CBS Television City (Los Angeles): A long-term home for multiple iterations of the show.
- Universal Studios Florida (Orlando): The brief 2010-2011 stint.
- Georgia World Congress Center (Atlanta): The beginning of the Steve Harvey era dominance.
- Trilith Studios (Fayetteville, GA): The current high-tech home where the magic happens today.
Why the Location Actually Matters
You might think, "It’s a game show, who cares where it’s filmed?"
But the location dictates the "flavor" of the show. A show filmed in New York (which Feud briefly considered but never fully committed to for the long term) feels fast-paced and sharp. A show filmed in L.A. feels "Hollywood."
Filming in Atlanta has given Family Feud a more grounded, "everyman" feel that resonates with a huge portion of the American audience. It feels like the families on screen are your neighbors. The audience feels like people you’d see at a grocery store. That relatability is a huge reason why the show remains a ratings powerhouse decades after it first premiered.
Getting Tickets to a Taping
If you want to see where Family Feud is filmed with your own eyes, you can actually do it for free.
The show uses services like Onset Productions to handle their audience casting. You apply online, pick a date, and hope for the best. Just remember the rules: no logos on your clothes, no bright whites (it messes with the cameras), and be prepared to clap until your hands are sore.
Most tapings happen in "clusters." They might film for two weeks straight and then take a month off. If you’re planning a trip to Atlanta specifically to see the show, you have to time it perfectly. Check the official Family Feud website or the audience casting sites about 2-3 months in advance.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're obsessed with the show and want more than just a 30-minute episode, here’s how to dive deeper:
- Check the Credits: Next time you watch, look at the very end of the credits. It will explicitly list the studio. It’s a fun way to see if they’ve moved recently.
- Follow the Crew: Many of the show's camera operators and set designers post behind-the-scenes glimpses on Instagram and TikTok. Search for hashtags like #FamilyFeudSet or #StudioLifeAtlanta.
- Audition: If you think your family has what it takes, the audition process is now largely digital. Record a video of your family being high-energy and "big" and submit it through the official casting portal.
- Visit Trilith: Even if you can't get into a taping, the Trilith area in Fayetteville is a cool spot to visit. It’s a "live-work-play" community designed for the film industry, with great food and a very "mini-Hollywood" atmosphere.
The show might change hosts, sets, and locations, but the core remains: people saying the first thing that pops into their head under pressure. Whether it’s filmed in a dusty L.A. studio or a high-tech Georgia soundstage, that’s what keeps us coming back.