When can Music Worlds be visited on November 7, 2026?

The exhibition is open on November 7, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

How much does admission to Music Worlds cost?

The regular admission for adults is 9 Euros. Discounts and family tickets are available.

What contents does the exhibition show?

Visitors can see musical instruments and objects from various eras and regions, including pre-Columbian whistle vessels, fire dance masks from Papua New Guinea, and an analog recording studio from the 1980s.

Are there tours and workshops?

Yes. The Reiss-Engelhorn Museums offer bookable tours as well as tours with workshops for school classes and kindergartens.

Is the exhibition suitable for families and school classes?

Yes. The exhibition combines visual impressions with audio guide experiences and is supplemented by educational offerings for children, youth, and school classes.

Where is the venue located?

Music Worlds takes place at the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums in Mannheim, 68159 Mannheim. An underground garage is located under the Museum of World Cultures.

Discover Music Worlds: A Sensory Journey through Global Sound Cultures in Mannheim

Name: Music Worlds
Start: 2026-11-07T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-07T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Museum Weltkulturen D5

Music Worlds: A Sensory Journey through the Sound Cultures of the World

The exhibition Music Worlds at the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums Mannheim offers an atmospheric entry into the universal human phenomenon of music. Between pre-Columbian whistle vessels, fire dance masks from Papua New Guinea, and a fully analog recording studio from the 1980s, cultural-historical analysis of artifacts is intertwined with surprising listening experiences.

Music as the Language of Cultures

At the heart of the curation is the question of how people use music to communicate, foster community, and facilitate transitions. The exhibition guides visitors through the themes of communication, community, movement, and transformation. Religious concepts, ceremonial practices, court music, and musical expressions from various regions appear as diverse responses to a shared cultural need.

Instruments between Ritual, Everyday Life, and Innovation

The presentation draws from the significant collection of the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums, featuring over 1,600 European and non-European musical instruments. A particular focus is placed on the extensive collection of pre-Columbian instruments, regarded as one of the most important outside the American continent. Forms, materials, and surfaces tell stories of craftsmanship, religious significance, and social belonging.

Sound Comes Alive in the Museum

Music Worlds does not stop at the silent contemplation of objects. An audio guide and staged listening experiences make sound physically and spatially perceptible. Music from Africa, India, East Asia, and pre-Columbian America enters into an exciting dialogue with rock, pop, and classical music. This creates an aesthetic experience where historical distance is bridged through immediate listening.

Cultural Education for School Classes and Kindergartens

Complementing the exhibition, the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums offer museum educational tours and workshops. The themes of music and religion, music and culture, as well as music as a signal, provide age-appropriate access. In interactive formats, participants can learn about tone whistle vessels and an Indonesian angklung among other things. Tours and workshops can be booked and are particularly aimed at secondary schools.

An Artistic Experience with a Global Perspective

The exhibition atmosphere combines ethnomusicological research, cultural-historical expertise, and sensory staging. Sculptural instrument bodies, textile masks, technical devices, and acoustic impressions expand the view of music as a social practice. The analysis of artifacts makes it visible that music not only sounds but also moves bodies, shapes spaces, and conveys worldviews.

Conclusion: Experience Music History Live

Music Worlds invites visitors on a multifaceted journey through sound, ritual, community, and technical innovation. The exhibition enriches cultural education and creates an intense aesthetic experience for families, school classes, and anyone who wants to discover music from new perspectives. A visit to Mannheim is worthwhile because here global music history is not only explained but also made audible and immediately experienceable.