Top 6 Experience Gifts for Mom: Give Experiences Instead of Gifts
Whether you’re shopping for Mother’s Day, a birthday, Christmas, or anything else, you may be wondering what to give to the mom who has everything. She consistently says she doesn’t want more stuff and that her kids' presence is all she wants for birthdays and holidays alike. Well, there’s a way to respect her wishes and still show her how much she means to you. Give your mother the gift of quality time via these experience-based gifts.
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1. Concert Tickets to Her Favorite Artist
Concert tickets never go out of style, especially for the mom who has everything.
Catch a Farewell Tour
What makes a farewell tour special is knowing it's the last chance to see that particular artist. Find farewell tickets to an artist your mom loves, and expect tears to fly as you cherish the artist’s poignant goodbye to touring live.
Journey is hitting over 60 cities for their 2026 farewell tour. Get tickets for you and your mom to see this classic band before they’re done touring forever. Belting classics like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Any Way You Want It” together will create memories you both can cherish forever.
Indulge in Throwback Favorites
Show an interest in the music of your mother’s youth by getting her tickets to throwback favorites like Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind, and Fire. These classic artists are touring together in 2026 for their Sing a Song All Night Long tour, visiting over 25 US cities. Tickets for these shows start at just $63.
2. Broadway Musical Tickets
Broadway shows are epic displays of talent, coordination, and artistry like no other. Take your mother to a nationally touring Broadway show in your nearest major city for an experience gift she’ll never forget.
Touring Broadway shows in 2026 include classics and new musicals alike. You and your mom can catch the haunting Phantom of the Opera, touring in 14 US cities from March until August, or watch the sound of “Sweet Caroline” come to life at A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical, touring North America through July.
3. Seats to See Her Favorite TV Show Live
Whether it’s a talk show or live competition series, seeing it in person adds an unforgettable behind-the-scenes element. Many TV series go on tour after production, offering you the chance to see the magic of your favorite show live without traveling far.
If your mom was one of the many fans of this year’s Dancing With the Stars, then take her to see the show live. The show will be in Buffalo, New York, on Mother’s Day, offering an extra-special evening for fans in the area.
4. Comedy Show Tickets
A stand-up show makes for a lighthearted, memory-filled evening out. Since motherhood can be as challenging as it is rewarding, give your mom the chance to laugh at all its ups and downs. Get tickets to a comedian focused on the absurdity of family life, like Ali Wong or Rosebud Baker.
Ali Wong has shows in over a dozen American cities through mid-May, and Rosebud Baker will tour in major cities like Chicago and Albuquerque through June. Whether you catch one of these iconic mom comedians or find a different comedy show in your area, giving your mom the gift of laughter is priceless.
5. Symphony Tickets
For the mom who loves classical music, a symphony performance offers a refined and meaningful experience. Experiencing a symphony live means you can feel the extraordinary ebbs and flows of an orchestra in person. From every bang of the bass drum to every trill of the violin, you feel like you’re a part of the sound.
Symphony orchestras throughout North America offer regular concerts. Depending on the time of year, these shows can be themed to highlight different seasons, artists, or events.
6. Plan a Trip Around a Special Live Event
Nothing could be more special than traveling with your loved ones. Book a trip with your mom around a live event to make memories that last a lifetime.
Mother’s Day Music Festival in Atlantic City
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a weekend getaway to Atlantic City for the Mother’s Day Music Festival. This festival features a hot lineup of R&B artists, including Jodeci, Xscape, and Kenny Lattimore. Play some slots, explore the boardwalk, and enjoy live music with your mom.
Watch Horse Racing in Louisville
During the first weekend of May, the Kentucky Derby takes over Louisville. Attend this iconic event to check off a bucket list item with your mom the week before Mother’s Day. Or, wait until Mother’s Day itself, when you can see special Mother’s Day Horse Racing at Churchill Downs.
See Epic Comedy in Los Angeles
Some of the best comedians in the world are attending the Netflix is a Joke Festival in Los Angeles during the week preceding Mother’s Day. Book a trip with your mom to see her favorite comedians and celebrities live. See greats like Jerry Seinfeld, David Letterman, and Wanda Sykes live.
How to Gift Tickets
When looking to purchase tickets as a gift for anyone, including your mom, there’s some planning involved.
Slyly Checking Their Availability
The first step to buying tickets for anyone as a gift is finding out whether they’ll be free on the date of the ticket. You can slyly achieve this with your mom without spoiling your gift by suggesting a visit on the day of the event. Most mothers will be happy to have their child visit, and hearing that you want to see them will likely clear up their schedule immediately. Hearing the visit is really for a show they love will just be the icing on the cake.
Securing the Best Seats
Secure seats to the concert here at Event Tickets Center, using our interactive seating maps to find exactly where you want to sit with your mom for the show.
Gifting Tickets You Don’t Have Yet
Tickets are not always sent immediately when purchased through a trusted secondary resale marketplace like Event Tickets Center. The tickets can only be transferred once they are released. For this reason, you may need to gift the tickets before actually having them. We offer several creative solutions to this problem in our How to Gift Tickets Without Having Them Guide.
The Best Gift is Quality Time
When choosing a gift for your mom, remember that the best gift is quality time. Whether you choose tickets to a comedy show, a music festival experience, or a family trip together, the best thing you can offer is togetherness. For the mom who has everything, experience gifts are the one thing they may not know they need.
