Tickets on sale to the public Thursday, April 30, at 10:00 a.m.
PHOENIX (April 14, 2025) — The MIM Music Theater is excited to announce its Summer 2026 Concert Series, which includes more than 70 concerts by revered musicians across a vast array of genres. Tickets for more than 50 new concerts go on sale to the public on Thursday, April 30, at 10:00 a.m.
Highlights of the Summer 2026 Concert Series include legendary soul and gospel vocalist Mavis Staples, Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton and his ’60s-inspired rock band the Boxmasters, and chart-topping pop singer Corinne Bailey Rae, who celebrates the 20th anniversary of her self-titled debut album. World-renowned drummer Stewart Copeland of the Police makes a special appearance as part of his first spoken-word tour in the United States, sharing anecdotes from and answering questions about his storied career.
Many notable artists will make their debuts at the MIM Music Theater during the Summer 2026 Concert Series, including multiplatinum ’70s pop-rock band Pablo Cruise, genre-blurring modern-day blues guitarist Fantastic Negrito, multidisciplinary hip hop artist Dessa, and psychedelia-infused and Cambodian-influenced rock sextet Dengue Fever. Returning favorites include Micky Dolenz in a concert commemorating 60 years of the Monkees, best-selling singer-songwriter John Oates and his Good Road Band, and award-winning contemporary classical all-stars the Kronos Quartet. Adventurous jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis and vaunted jazz singer Dianne Reeves also return to the theater for a collaborative performance celebrating the 100th birthday and music of jazz legend John Coltrane.
The MIM Music Theater reflects the Musical Instrument Museum’s global mission by presenting distinguished musicians from around the world. This season’s international highlights include Irish folk supergroup the High Kings, Indian sitār virtuoso Sahana Banerjee, acclaimed Cuban bandleader Juan de Marcos González and his Afro-Cuban All Stars, and Malian singer and guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, known as “the Hendrix of the Sahara.”
“Our Summer 2026 Concert Series showcases an exceptional range of artists from around the world,” says MIM Music Theater artistic director Andrew Walesch. “We’re thrilled to share these unforgettable performances with our audiences.”
Circle of Friends members who give $500 or more annually can buy tickets starting at the Summer 2026 Concert Series Premiere on Thursday, April 23. Members who give $250 or more enjoy exclusive member benefits year-round, including advance purchase opportunities for concerts.
Additional artists will be added to the lineup throughout the season. To get the latest announcements from the MIM Music Theater, sign up for concert newsletters at MIM.org.
Summer 2026 Concert Series sponsored by Sanderson Lincoln
***
About MIM and the MIM Music Theater
The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) enriches our world by collecting, preserving, and making accessible an astonishing variety of musical instruments and performance videos from every country in the world. MIM offers guests a welcoming and fun experience, incomparable interactive technology, dynamic programming, and exceptional musical performances. MIM fosters appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures by showing how we innovate, adapt, and learn from each other to create music—the language of the soul.
In addition to hosting performances by renowned artists, the MIM Music Theater introduces guests to emerging talents from around the world. It has been called “the best 300-seat venue in the country” by Grammy winner Shawn Colvin. Each performance is an extension of the museum’s exhibits―showcasing the instruments, the people who play them, and the musical language we all share.
Find MIM on Facebook: Facebook.com/MIMphx
Instagram and YouTube: @MIMphx
TikTok: @MIM_phx
MIM Press Contact
Sydney Rich
Communications Manager
[email protected]
480.245.6953
