Take a Tour

^{Engage with the arts and history of this landmark by exploring our spaces or taking a free guided tour of the Kennedy Center and the REACH.}

Free guided tours

The Kennedy Center offers free daily guided tours given by Friends of the Kennedy Center volunteers. The tour highlights the historic events that led up to the establishment of the national cultural center that is also our nation's living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and includes an interactive exhibit on his life and presidency.

Visitors also learn about the works of art given to the Center, such as Robert Berks's bust of President Kennedy, Willy Weber's Apollo X, and the stunning REACH buildings by architect Steven Holl.

View "Artist Gifts and the Artists Who Created Them".

Learn more about art & sculpture at the REACH

For more information call (202) 416-8340.

Tour Hours

All tours of the Kennedy Center start at the tour desk on Level A. Come in on a walk-in basis approximately every 10 minutes, or sign up for one of our special tours below in advance.

For tours of the REACH, visit the Welcome Desk in the Welcome Pavilion.

Kennedy Center Tour Hours

Mon. - Fri. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sat. & Sun. 10:00 a.m.– 1:00 p.m.

The REACH Tour Hours

Mon. - Fri. 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Sat. & Sun. 11:00 a.m.

Special Tours

: Serving Visitors with Disabilities

All tours are accessible to people with disabilities. Wheelchairs and assistive listening devices available upon request.

Kennedy Center Friends tour guides welcome our visitors with disabilities and provide many accommodations. Assistive listening devices are available at the tour desk on the A-level for visitors who have a hearing loss, and all tours are wheelchair-accessible. Additionally, Touch tours, Sign-Interpreted tours, and Meet Your Seat tours are offered upon request.

Touch tours are given by specially-trained Friends tour guides for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Attendees will be able to touch some of the works of art, including several sculptures.

Sign-Interpreted tours are available for visitors who are Deaf. Attendees will see the main theaters and lounges, and will learn about the gifts and the artist who created them such as Robert Berks's bust of President John F. Kennedy, Willy Weber's Apollo X, and the stunning Israeli Lounge.

Request a Touch or Sign-Interpreted tour here:

Request an Access Tour

Meet Your Seat tours are available for patrons with cognitive disabilities to "meet their seat" in advance of the performance they are attending or to view seating locations before purchasing tickets.

Request a Meet Your Seat tour by completing and emailing this form:

Request a Meet Your Seat tour

Please note: Touch tours, Sign-Interpreted tours and Meet Your Seat tours are available upon request with at least two weeks' advance notice. Please contact the Accessibility Office for further information at (202) 416-8727 (voice), or online at access@kennedy-center.org.
: Foreign Language Tours

Kennedy Center tours are offered in the following languages: Français, Deutsch, עִברִית, हिंदी, Italiano, 普通话, Português, русский, and Español. In addition, a written tour script is available in 14 languages, including العربية, 中文, فارسی, Français, Deutsch, Italiano, 日本語, 한국어, 普通话, Polskie, Português, русский, Español, Svenska, and Türk.

As a supplement to our foreign language tours, brochures with information about the Center are available in Arabic, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish about the Kennedy Center. You can find these online and in print at the Visitors Center in the Hall of States or the Tour Desk on the A-level.

Request a Foreign Language Tour
: Group Tours

Scheduled tours are available for parties of 15 to 60
Weekdays: 10 AM to 3:30 pm
Weekends: 10 AM to 12:30 pm

Whether you are a group of seniors, young professionals, or friends, plan ahead and book a Kennedy Center group tour, offered every half hour for parties consisting of 15- 60 individuals. If your group would like to attend a performance before or after your tour, our Group Sales department can help. Special discounts and terms are available for most group ticket purchases. Learn more about Group Sales.

Request a Group Tour
: VIP Tours

VIP Tours are offered to any group size and are approved by Kennedy Center management.
VIP tours are geared toward groups that have a special connection to the arts or to the Kennedy Center.

Request a VIP Tour
: Tours for Young People

Three special tours are offered for elementary, middle, and high school students.

Introduce young audiences the world of the performing arts by taking them on a Kennedy Center Tour for Young People. These tours can be tailored upon request to the group's particular interest, experience, and knowledge of the performing arts.

Elementary School Tour for ages 4–10 (25–30 minutes)

Exactly how big is the Grand Foyer? How many flags are in the Hall of States? Who is Mosby the Cat? Elementary school children ages 4-10 will find out fun facts about these topics and more, and experience an interactive tour designed to cultivate their interest in the performing arts. This tour will also teach them why the Kennedy Center was named after President Kennedy as well as give them information about other presidents who were involved in the Center's creation. Teachers and/or chaperones will be asked to assist the Friends tour guide in engaging the group along the way by utilizing the special interactive guide that will be provided for each tour group.

Request an Elementary School Tour

Middle School Tour for ages 11–14 (35–45 minutes)

Our guided tour for middle school students includes the history of the Kennedy Center and its role as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. The tour highlights the wide variety of performances at the Center, from music to theater to comedy, with the goal of inspiring and engaging the the students' interest in the performing arts. This tour also provides background information about the gifts received from all over the world, which can be seen throughout the building, as well as details about the artwork featured in the Center.

Request a Middle School Tour

High School Tour for ages 14-18 (35-45 minutes)

This special tour for young adults offers an experience that connects the Kennedy Center's performances and educational outreach efforts to today's cultural trends in the arts, a topic that would be of interest to this age bracket. The tour also provides an overview of the array of possible careers in the performing arts and offers a broader perspective on the Center's community outreach to teenagers.

Request a High School Tour

Once your reservation has been received, you will be notified within three to five business days. Tours for Young People are subject to availability and require two weeks' advance notice.

Explore the REACH

See what's playing and tour the grounds and new spaces in our exciting extension.

The REACH is a living theater where diverse art forms collide to break down the boundaries between audience and art. It is an immersive learning center, a public incubator, and a set of dynamic, collaborative spaces where art happens so close audiences can reach out and touch it.

Share Your Tour Experience

How was your REACH tour experience or your Kennedy Center tour experience? Let us know what some of the highlights were and how we can improve the experience in a quick survey.

You can also use #KenCenTours to share your experience on social media!