Group Tours
Music is better together! Explore the world of music on a self-guided group tour or a group tour led by an experienced museum guide.
Every Adult Group Tour Includes
An orientation video
A Sennheiser guidePORT to hear music in the galleries
Music making in a hands-on gallery
An opportunity to see thousands of instruments from every corner of the world
Find the Right Tour for Your Group
Explore the world of music on a self-guided group tour or a tour led by an experienced museum guide. Complete your day by adding lunch, a musical activity, or a VIP experience.
Guided Tours
Harmony and Highlights
Included with museum admission ($20 per adult); reservations are required.
Great Guitars
Included with museum admission ($20 per adult); reservations are required.
The Great Guitars tour showcases a selection of notable guitars throughout the galleries. See guitars owned and played by important musicians, guitars with innovative designs and interesting forms, and guitars that illustrate the instrument’s development and variety.
Music and Wellness
Included with museum admission ($20 per adult). Guided tours last approximately one hour.
The Music and Wellness tour explores how cultures around the world use music to promote health and wellness. See and hear instruments used in shamanistic and ritual healing, social music played for community wellbeing, music used for mindfulness and meditation, and instruments connected to medical practices.
Reservations are required.
Self-Guided Tours
Tours are included with museum admission ($20 per adult); reservations are required. Self-guided tours typically last approximately 3 hours.
Chart your own path through thousands of musical instruments and objects in MIM’s galleries. GuidePORTs and headsets included with admission automatically connect to high-definition video screens in the exhibits, allowing you to see and hear how instruments are played in their original cultural contexts. On the first level, see instruments owned and played by famous musicians, listen to a 25-foot-wide mechanical dance organ, and play instruments in the interactive Experience Gallery. The second level is devoted to instruments and music from every country in the world.
VIP Tour: Go Behind the Scenes
$27 per person. Includes museum admission. Reservations are required and must be made at least two weeks in advance. VIP tours last approximately one hour and are available to guests 18 and older.
Join a specially trained museum guide for a one-hour tour through spaces and places not accessible to the public. Discover how exhibits are created, go backstage at the MIM Music Theater, and more!
MIM Tour and Tea Package
Inquire for pricing. Tour start times are flexible; afternoon tea service is at 3:30 p.m.
Explore the world of music with a tour of MIM followed by a traditional afternoon English tea.
Package includes:
- A customized guided museum tour including an orientation video and visits to immersive exhibits throughout MIM’s galleries
- Music making in a hands-on gallery
- An assortment of delectable treats made in MIM’s kitchen
- A wide selection of teas from Tucson’s Maya Tea Company
- Table setting with beautiful linens and serviceware
Balloons and Tunes Package
To book this package, call Hot Air Expeditions at 480.502.6999 or email info@hotairexpeditions.com.
Enjoy a spectacular, fun-filled package from Hot Air Expeditions and MIM, two of Arizona’s most popular attractions. Begin your day flying up, up, and away with Hot Air Expeditions, then experience the music and cultures of the world at MIM!
Package includes:
- Hot air balloon inflation viewing
- 45-to-60-minute hot air balloon flight
- Transfers to and from MIM
- Three-hour visit at MIM, including state-of-the-art wireless headsets and headphones for a self-guided tour of the galleries
- Lunch voucher for Café Allegro
Lunch at Café Allegro
Inquire for pricing.
Enjoy delicious globally inspired cuisine at Café Allegro or coffee and a snack at Beats Coffee Bar®. We’re happy to work with your group to customize your dining experience.
Special Exhibition
Additional $7 per person.
Dive deep into a specific musical theme with a self-guided tour of MIM’s current special exhibition.
MIM’s current special exhibition is The Magical Flute: Beauty, Enchantment and Power.
Drumming Workshop
Inquire for pricing.
Make music during an immersive 60-minute drumming workshop led by a professional teaching artist and drummer. Learn the basics of African, Latin, and pop music hand drumming, then jam together.
Scavenger Hunt
Free with group tour purchase.
Search MIM’s galleries to find specific instruments from around the world! Teams receive a worksheet to help guide the search. You can purchase prizes from the Museum Store to reward winning teams.
Find the Right Tour for Your Group
Adult Guided Tour
Included with museum admission ($20 per adult). Guided tours last approximately one hour.
Guided tours offer an overview of the world’s music, focusing on cultures in each geographic region of the globe. End the tour in the Experience Gallery, where you can make some music of your own on instruments from around the world. Admission includes guidePORTs, headsets, and private tour by experienced museum guides. Guests walk away understanding the powerful connections we share through music.
Self-Guided Tour
Included with museum admission ($20 per adult). Average self-guided tours typically last approximately 3 hours.
Explore independently more than 4,200 musical instruments displayed in MIM’s galleries. GuidePORTs and headsets included with admission automatically play music at the exhibits, allowing you to observe how instruments are played and hear how they sound when standing in front
of the exhibit’s video screen. In the Experience Gallery, make some music of your own on instruments from around the world!
VIP Tour: Go Behind the Scenes
$27 per person. VIP tours last approximately one hour.
Discover how exhibits are created, go backstage at the MIM Music Theater, and more! Join a specially trained museum guide for a one-hour tour through spaces and places not accessible to the public.
MIM Tour and Tea Package
Inquire for pricing. Tour start times are flexible; afternoon tea service is at 3:30 p.m.
Explore a world of music with a tour of MIM followed by a traditional afternoon English tea. Package includes:
- A customized guided museum tour including an orientation video and visits to immersive exhibits throughout MIM’s galleries
- Lively music making in a hands-on gallery
- An assortment of delectable treats produced in MIM’s kitchen
by executive chef Paul Steele and pastry chef Vanessa Behar - A broad selection of teas from Tucson’s Maya Tea Company
- Table setting with linens and beautiful serviceware
MIM offers the Tour and Tea Package year-round, seven days a week, with advance notice. Subject to space availability. Tour start times are flexible; afternoon tea service is at 3:30 p.m.
To book this package, contact MIM’s group sales specialist at 480.478.6031 or adulttours@MIM.org at least two weeks before your desired date.
Balloons and Tunes Package
Enjoy a spectacular, fun-filled package from Hot Air Expeditions and MIM, two of Arizona’s most popular attractions. Start your day up, up, and away with Hot Air Expeditions, then experience the music and cultures of the world at MIM! Package includes:
- Hot air balloon inflation viewing
- 45-to-60-minute hot air balloon flight
- Transfers to and from MIM
- 3-hour visit at MIM, including state-of-the-art wireless headsets and headphones for an entertaining, interactive, and fun self-guided tour
- Lunch voucher for Café Allegro
To book this package, call Hot Air Expeditions at 480.502.6999 or email info@hotairexpeditions.com.
Looking for tour options for school and youth groups?
Discover the music and cultures of the world on one of our tours for pre-K–12 students (ages 3–18).
Other Educational Programming for Adults
MIM Talks
World Choir Workshops
Senior Programs
MIM’s life-enrichment programs feature guided gallery tours and music-making workshops for seniors and people with memory loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are strollers or mobility aids allowed?
Yes. Strollers, wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers are welcome. Complimentary options are available at Guest Service. Non-stroller baby carriers or wagons are not allowed inside the museum and must be checked at Guest Service.
Can I take photos or videos on my tour?
Non-flash photography for personal use is permitted in the galleries unless otherwise indicated. Tripods, selfie sticks, and other pieces of stabilizing equipment are not allowed. Professional, commercial, or editorial shoots require prior approval by MIM. Please send requests to media@MIM.org.
Can my group attend a concert in the MIM Music Theater?
Concert tickets for the MIM Music Theater are sold separately. MIM does not offer group tour packages for MIM Music Theater concerts.
Can my group purchase tickets to the special exhibition?
Yes! Special exhibition tickets are sold separately. Please indicate your interest on the Group Tour Request Form. Capacity restrictions may apply.
Can my group take a self-guided tour?
Yes! We encourage you to make a reservation for your group to expedite the check-in process. We will provide a brief orientation, then your group can explore the galleries on your own. An average visit lasts about three hours.
Can we bring food, backpacks, etc.?
All backpacks and any bags larger than 18 inches by 18 inches are not allowed inside the museum and must be checked at Guest Service. Food and beverages, including water, are not permitted outside of Café Allegro or the PNC Bank Family Center. No outside food or drink is allowed inside the museum.
Does MIM meet ADA accessibility requirements?
MIM meets all Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements. Please notify us at least two weeks before your tour if you have accessibility requests.
How do I book a tour?
To book a tour, please fill out the Group Tour Request Form. Our team will follow up with you to finalize a date and time.
How do I pay?
Full payment for your group tour is due upon arrival by credit card, cash, or check made out to the Musical Instrument Museum.
How much does a group tour cost?
Most guided tours are free with museum admission ($20 per adult). VIP tours and specialty tours are available at an additional cost. For further questions about rates for tourism professionals, colleges, or large conferences, please contact adulttours@MIM.org.
What are group tours like at MIM?
MIM offers both guided and self-guided museum tours, plus select add-ons to enrich your experience. All tours include a Sennheiser guidePORT with headphones, which automatically connect with monitors in the galleries and provide the soundtrack for videos at more than 300 exhibits around the museum.
What happens if I need to cancel my group tour?
If you need to cancel your group tour, please email adulttours@MIM.org or call 480.478.6031. All changes or cancellations must be made before the tour date. Please submit another request if you are interested in rescheduling your visit. MIM reserves the right to cancel or reschedule your group at any time.
What happens when we arrive at MIM?
When you arrive, please enter through MIM’s main entrance and have your group leader check in at Guest Service. If you are taking a guided tour, your tour guide will meet you, provide a brief orientation, and then you’ll start your tour!
What sizes and types of groups can visit?
Tours are available for groups of all types and sizes. Whether you’re bringing family members, friends, or employees or looking for an outing for a club, alumni association, or conference group, a group tour is the perfect way to enrich your MIM experience.
When can my group take a guided tour?
Tours are available year-round, seven days a week. Let us know your preferred date and time when you book your tour. For guided and VIP tours, please make your reservation at least 14 days in advance.
Where do I park?
There is ample free parking at MIM. Tour bus parking is available on the north side of the museum. MIM is motorcoach-friendly, with convenient drop-off and pickup points in front of the museum.
Will my group hear music during our tour?
Yes! Included with museum admission is a Sennheiser guidePORT with headphones. These audio guides—completely automatic and with high-quality audio—provide the soundtrack for videos at more than 300 exhibits around the museum.
Plan Your Visit to MIM
Questions?
For questions about MIM’s group tour offerings, please contact our team at adulttours@MIM.org or 480.478.6031.