Offer your guests a destination-style immersive experience with incredible views of Baltimore's Inner Harbor and private touring of our award-winning exhibits. The Aquarium's event spaces are ideal for weddings, corporate cocktail hours, corporate retreats, team-building sessions, fundraising galas, holiday parties and other special occasions!
Space rental fees cover a private rental, including access to exhibits and staff (on-site manager, security and hosts, as needed). You can also use our existing tables, chairs and podium with a mic. Five-hour event rentals are available September through March (beginning at 7 p.m.), and four-hour rentals are available April and May (beginning at 8 p.m.). A scheduled site visit is highly recommended!
We cannot host any events on Fridays or during regular Aquarium hours. We also cannot host events on Saturdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Each event hosted at the Aquarium helps support our mission to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. Fill out our request form to check availability and reserve your space!
Venue Options
Amaze your guests with a strolling cocktail hour through the award-winning exhibits in Blue Wonders, dine and dance in the company of dolphins and jellies in our Pier 4 event space, or enjoy sweeping views of Baltimore's Inner Harbor in our Harbor View Room.
Pier 3: Blue Wonders
Blue Wonders is the perfect space for weddings, cocktail hours, dinner parties and other large gatherings. This area offers stunning views of Baltimore's iconic Inner Harbor with two reception spaces: Harbor Overlook and Harbor View Room.
The Pier 3 building also features a 240-person 4D theater space and private, self-guided touring of four floors of Blue Wonders' award-winning exhibits.
Pier 4: Marine Mammal Pavilion
Host your event in the company of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and jellies in the Aquarium's Pier 4 building! This space is perfect for proms, lectures, presentations, cocktail hours and dinner parties.
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Pier 4 features our dolphin underwater viewing area in Dolphin Discovery, the atrium reception space, and private access to the beautiful Jellies Invasion exhibit.
Harbor View Room
Harbor View Room is sure to dazzle your guests with sweeping views of Baltimore's Inner Harbor and historic Federal Hill. This intimate space is ideal for small gatherings and is located on the fourth floor of Blue Wonders—adjacent to the Sea Cliffs exhibit, home to the Aquarium's Atlantic puffins.
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With three large LED displays to feature sponsorship logos, team photos and slideshow presentations, this space is great for board retreat dinners and cocktail hours for networking.
Corporate and Convention Events
Treat your customers, employees or guests to an unforgettable, immersive experience at the National Aquarium. Invite your guests to explore world-class exhibits for your next cocktail party, sales event or holiday party. Convention attendees can take advantage of our bus drop-off circle or enjoy a short walk from the Baltimore Convention Center with numerous downtown hotels nearby.
Weddings at the Aquarium
Let us be your something blue! Offer your guests a destination-style experience right in the heart of Baltimore. Take in breathtaking views of Baltimore's beautiful Inner Harbor as your ceremony backdrop in our Harbor Overlook space and enjoy private touring of our Blue Wonders exhibits with a strolling cocktail hour. Other ceremony spaces are available at an additional cost. Weddings can accommodate 120 people for a fully seated wedding, and wedding rentals include a 45-minute rehearsal the Friday before the wedding. Submit a wedding request with as few as 8 weeks' notice or up to sixteen months in advance to start planning your special day!
We also offer micro-weddings and elopements, including a 30-minute wedding rehearsal during normal business hours, Sunday through Thursday. Micro-wedding packages start at $8,500 for a four-hour private event for up to 25 guests, and elopement packages start at $2,500 for a two-hour private event for up to 25 guests. You can submit a micro-wedding or elopement request up to four months in advance!
Touring Events
Explore the Aquarium with an after-hours private event! Enjoy our award-winning habitats, unique and fascinating animals, and all the wonder you'd expect from the National Aquarium—with no crowds!
Touring Nights
Book the Aquarium's Pier 3 building for a private Touring Night for up to 100 guests! Immerse your group or company in the beauty of Blue Wonders with packages starting at $5,000.
Sealuxe: Customized After-Hours Experiences
Dine under the sea at the Aquarium! Beginning at $5,000, make the Aquarium your own with a three-hour private evening. This experience includes VIP front door parking, a one-of-a-kind tour of the Aquarium's award-winning exhibits, and a customizable dining experience in the underwater viewing area of Blacktip Reef. Optional add-ons include photographers, musicians and flowers.
National Aquarium Exclusive Caterer
Catering services at the National Aquarium are offered through our exclusive in-house catering team, SSA Group. SSA Group specializes in crafting menus that cater to most tastes and dietary requirements and prioritize sustainable, eco-friendly selections to fit your vision and budget. Exceptions can be made for kosher or halal food items (additional fee applies). SSA Group will also handle all linen and specialty rentals to make your event unforgettable.
Event Resources
Please make use of the following resources for sharing with those interested in hosting a special event at the Aquarium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about planning an event? We've answered our most frequently asked questions.
Once you select a date and confirm availability, we will guarantee a hold on your date and rates for two weeks at no cost. A scheduled site visit is highly recommended, and a quote for space rental fees will be provided to you in writing. Once confirmed, a space rental contract will be issued with 50% of the base rental fee due.
We can provide a discounted parking rate for guests through our parking garage partners.
Aquarium members do not receive special rates. Some corporate members receive event rental credits based on their membership level. Visit our corporate partnerships page to learn more.
Capacities are based on the scope of the event and may be reduced to accommodate set-up requests.
| Venue | Cocktail Event Capacity | Seated Event Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Pier 3: Blue Wonders | 750 people | 392 people |
| Pier 4: Marine Mammal Pavillion | 700 people | 440 people |
| Harbor View Room | 100 people | 72 people |
| Entire Aquarium | 1,450 people | 700 people |