skip to main content

Health, Safety & Wellbeing When Touring Abroad

From staying safe on the road to understanding local laws and cultural contexts, preparation is key to ensuring a tour runs smoothly and supports your health and wellbeing.

Last updated: 29 September 2025

Touring internationally can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a musician’s career, but it also comes with unique challenges and responsibilities. From staying safe on the road to understanding local laws and cultural contexts, preparation is key to ensuring a tour runs smoothly and supports your health and wellbeing.

In this section, we bring together essential guidance to help you plan ahead and protect yourself and your colleagues when working overseas. Whether you’re travelling as part of an orchestra, heading out on a solo tour, or working within a group, these resources are designed to support you before, during, and after your trip.

Explore the pages below to find practical advice and specialist support:

Get advice and support on mental health and physical wellbeing

Discover a wealth of advice and resources to help musicians to look after their mental health and physical wellbeing.

MU member services

Explore wellbeing for musicians

Get advice and support on mental health and physical wellbeing

International news

Three wooden blocks with red icons painted on them.

MU Concerned by New EU Customs Fees for Artists Selling Merchandise

A new EU customs charge on low-value parcels is creating additional costs and administrative challenges for musicians selling merchandise directly to fans in Europe. The MU will work to ensure musicians affected by the new legislation are represented at a stakeholder consultation later this year.

Published: 31 July 2026

Read more about MU Concerned by New EU Customs Fees for Artists Selling Merchandise
A brick wall with the flags of Spain and Gibraltar painted on it, overlapping each other.

Spain-Gibraltar Border Changes: What the New Agreement Means for Musicians

New arrangements between Gibraltar and Spain will remove routine border checks for people crossing by land. While the agreement does not change existing rights to work in Spain or the EU, any time spent in Gibraltar will count towards musicians’ 90-day allowance for the Schengen area.

Published: 30 July 2026

Read more about Spain-Gibraltar Border Changes: What the New Agreement Means for Musicians