An exhibition of China’s prized Terracotta Warriors will open in Canberra at the end of 2026, thanks to an historic exchange between the national museums of China and Australia.
As part of the exchange, the National Museum of Australia’s critically acclaimed Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters exhibition will travel to the National Museum of China in late 2026.
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Terracotta Warriors were created more than 2,000 years ago and their discovery is considered one of the greatest archaeological events of the 20th century. The collection depicts the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China.
The sculptures, which were buried with the emperor between 210 and 209 BCE to protect him in the afterlife, provide valuable insights into the history, culture, and military practices of the Qin Dynasty. On loan from the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, the exhibition is expected to be a huge drawcard for the museum.
According to director, Katherine McMahon, it took more than a decade of work by the National Museum of Australia to secure the exchange. In return, Chinese audiences will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Australia’s First Nations people.
Songlines details an ancient First Nations creation saga across the APY (Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) lands of the central deserts, the Ngaanyatjarra lands in western Australia and the Martu lands in north-west Australia.
In announcing the exchange, Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said cultural exchanges were an important way to build mutual understanding and appreciation.
“This agreement will serve to reinforce the important links between our countries, communities and cultural institutions,” he said. “We are so proud to take Songlines to Beijing to introduce this epic First Nations creation saga to Chinese audiences, while Australians will be enthralled by archaeological treasures when Terracotta Warriors opens in Canberra.”
