The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show — universally known as TGMS — is the original show that launched Tucson’s transformation into the gem and mineral capital of the world. Organized by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society and held at the Tucson Convention Center, TGMS is the anchor event that everything else in the Tucson gem show season revolves around. With over 200 dealers, a world-class annual theme exhibition, and more than 50,000 attendees, this four-day event is the most prestigious public mineral show on earth. Each year’s themed exhibition draws museum-quality loans and donations that represent the finest examples of the featured mineral or locality.
For wholesale buyers, TGMS operates differently from the trade-only shows earlier in the season. Admission is $15 per day and the show is open to the public, but the quality of dealers on the floor is extraordinary. Many of the world’s top mineral dealers maintain booths at TGMS, and serious trade buyers can arrange dealer-to-dealer pricing through direct conversation. The convention center setting provides superb lighting and climate control — critical for accurately evaluating mineral specimens and gemstones. If you are sourcing premium mineral specimens, rare species, or investment-grade pieces for high-end clients, the TGMS dealer floor is where the most important material surfaces.
Beyond the dealer floor, TGMS hosts educational lectures, competitive exhibits, and the themed exhibition that is widely considered the finest public mineral display assembled anywhere each year. For wholesale buyers who serve collector clients, attending the lectures and studying the exhibition provides invaluable market intelligence — understanding which minerals and localities are generating excitement helps inform buying decisions for the year ahead. The show’s cultural and educational programming also makes TGMS an excellent event for networking with museum professionals, serious collectors, and fellow dealers.
TGMS runs at the very end of the Tucson gem show 2026 season, which means most satellite shows will have already concluded or be in their final days by the time TGMS opens. Smart wholesale buyers use the earlier weeks to source volume inventory at the trade shows, then close their Tucson trip at TGMS to acquire the premium, one-of-a-kind pieces that this singular event attracts. The economic impact of the combined Tucson gem show season exceeds $286 million annually, and TGMS is the crown jewel that drives it all.