Jo Pickup, Must-see museum blockbusters in 2026, ArtsHub, 7 January 2026
Dive in to a stunning range of major museum shows in Australia this year – from exciting new permanent displays to rare touring exhibitions.
Against the ever-tumultuous backdrop of global political events, rather than engage directly in such political themes, many of Australia’s state museums are instead focusing on subjects from the ancient biological world this year – with displays on Australia’s lost mega-fauna, its giant crocodiles as well as its insect kingdom.
The major exception to this plant and animal kingdom trend is Melbourne Museum, whose highly anticipated exhibition ROME: Empire, Power, People is already sparking commentary and comparisons to present-day political power structures.
As usual, there is a huge variety on offer from our major museums this year, so keep this shortlist handy and bookmark these big shows.