Melbourne Museum Is Hosting an Exclusive Exhibition on the History and Legacy of Ancient Rome in 'ROME: Empire, Power, People'
Dive deep into the one and only Roman Empire with 150+ artefacts from April 2026.
It feels so long ago that we were all asking each other, "what's your Roman Empire?" We had all sorts of answers, but for a lot of people, the answer was right there: the Roman Empire. For a civilisation that ended over 1500 years ago, it has a lot of staying power. The latest retrospective into the root of Western civilisation is coming to Melbourne Museum in April 2026.
ROME: Empire, Power, People is a Melbourne-exclusive exploration of the rise, rule and legacy of the empire that, at its peak, stretched from the British Isles all the way to Africa and West Asia. At the centre of the experience is 150 objects dated from the Imperial period of 1st Century CE to the 3rd Century CE, each offering glimpses into the politics, culture and social lives of Rome's rulers and citizens.
Each object has never been in Melbourne before, and the collection includes statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday objects. With these artefacts, visitors will be able to chart the history of Rome from the death of Julius Caesar to the rise, and eventual collapse, of the empire that would span across the continents — exploring everything from the luxury of the imperial court to the spectacle of the gladiator arena and down to the humble markets of Rome's cities.
Beyond artefacts, the exhibition will incorporate scenography and multimedia to really bring the images of Rome to life. The experience is designed by Melbourne Museum in collaboration with curators from two of Italy's most prestigious museums — Museo Nazionale Romano and Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze, and presented with the support of Ministero della Cultura, Dipartimento per la valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale and Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Toscana.
"This exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand before treasures nearly 2000 years old and feel the pulse of a civilisation that shaped the world. Don't miss this extraordinary journey; experience the grandeur and humanity of Rome right here at Melbourne Museum," said Lynley Crosswell, CEO & Director of Museums Victoria.
Federica Montani, Head of Exhibitions at Contemporanea Progetti, said: "This exhibition is the result of an exceptional collaboration between Australia and Italy. Our goal was to craft an exhibition that allows visitors to step into the heart of Ancient Rome — to create an experience that reveals not only the Empire's grandeur, but also the humanity of the people who shaped its history."
Museo Nazionale di Firenze
Alongside the exhibition, Melbourne Museum will serve a wide variety of regional Italian cuisine at its eateries, the Museums Victoria store will sell exclusive retail items, and IMAX Melbourne will screen a series of classic Italian films throughout the exhibition period.
'ROME: Empire, People, Power' opens at Melbourne Museum on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
Images supplied by Museums Victoria.
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