When can MusicWorlds be visited?

The exhibition opens on October 28, 2026, at 10 AM. The regular opening hours of the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museums are Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

How much does it cost to enter MusicWorlds?

The regular admission for adults is 9 euros. Discounts, family tickets, and group rates are available.

Are there guided tours or workshops?

Yes, the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museums offer guided tours and workshops for school classes and daycare groups. Registration is required.

Is the exhibition suitable for children and teenagers?

Yes, MusicWorlds presents music and cultural diversity vividly and offers special educational formats for young visitors.

How long does a visit to the exhibition last?

A binding visit duration is not defined. Sufficient time should be planned for the tour with the audio guide and examination of works.

Are there parking facilities?

There is an underground garage under the Museum of World Cultures of the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museums.

Discover MusicWorlds: Experience Sound, Culture, and History in Mannheim

Name: MusicWorlds
Start: 2026-10-28T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-28T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Museum Weltkulturen D5

MusicWorlds: A Sensory Journey Through the Sound History of Humanity

The exhibition MusicWorlds at the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museums Mannheim opens an atmospheric access to the universal phenomenon of music. Between ancient American whistle vessels, fire dance masks from Papua New Guinea, and a fully analog recording studio from the 1980s, a fascinating panorama of sound, ritual, communication, and cultural memory unfolds.

Instruments as Testimonies of Cultural Diversity

At the center are extraordinary musical instruments and objects from different eras and regions. The presentation is based on the significant collection of the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museums, which includes more than 1,600 European and non-European instruments. This includes one of the largest collections of ancient American musical instruments outside the American continent.

The study of works leads from Africa and India through the Far East to ancient America. Traditional sound bodies, religious objects, masks, and technical testimonies of music history demonstrate how closely music is connected to community, identity, movement, and transformation.

Listening, Seeing, and Discovering Cultural Contexts

MusicWorlds combines cultural-historical exhibitions, music ethnology, and museum staging. An audio guide makes the exhibits immediately accessible through surprising listening experiences. Related sound worlds from rock, pop, and classical music create bridges between different musical cultures and invite visitors to reconsider familiar listening habits.

The atmosphere of the exhibition thrives on the interplay between precious historical objects, striking forms, different materials, and the acoustic impressions of the tour. This creates an aesthetic experience where music appears not only as an abstract art form but also as a social practice and an expression of cultural education.

Cultural Education for School Classes and Families

Alongside the exhibition, the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museums offer museum educational tours and workshops. Thematic focuses include music and religious beliefs, music as a means of communication, and the comparison of musical cultures. In interactive offerings, selected instruments and sound principles can be explored practically.

For school classes, there is a guided tour followed by a music workshop on sound whistle vessels and the Indonesian angklung. The educational offerings combine professional classification, sensory examination of works, and joint experimentation.

Conclusion: An Artistic Experience Between History and Present

MusicWorlds awaits visitors with an impressive connection of exhibition, sound, and global cultural history. The tour makes it visible how music connects people across times and continents. Those who wish to experience music as part of everyday life, ritual, technology, and identity will find an inspiring art experience and a enriching aesthetic experience here.