On November 10, 2025, the highly anticipated ancient Roman art exhibition“ROMA——From Olympus to Capitoline” officially opened at the World Expo Museum. Co-organized by the World Expo Museum and National Museums Liverpool (UK), the exhibition will be open to the public fromNovember 11 toMay 5, 2026.

　　Why Is This Exhibition a MustSee? Three Core Highlights Fuel Public Enthusiasm

　　A Rare Cultural IP Makes Its Shanghai Debut

　　All 131 objects (sets) on display in this exhibition come from National Museums Liverpool in the United Kingdom, an institution with a collection of more than four million items. Its holdings of classical sculpture are second in scale only to those of the British Museum. The works presented in this exhibition represent the very finest selections from its collection.The exhibits span a wide range of categories, including sculpture, ceramics, glassware, gemstones, and sarcophagus reliefs, and will all be shown in Shanghai for the first time.

　　Marisa Prandelli, a conservation and restoration specialist from National Museums Liverpool, emphasized that conservation work on some of the exhibited artifacts only began in 2017. While prioritizing the preservation of the sculptures’ authenticity, the restoration adopted methods that meet contemporary conservation standards, minimizing any impact on the original surfaces and structures of the objects. Bringing this group of artifacts to China for a touring exhibition for the first time has been no small undertaking.

　　As one of the largest ancient Roman art exhibitions to be presented in Shanghai in many years, this landmark show fills a gap in the region’s exhibition landscape at a comparable scale. It continues the exploratory trajectory established by the major exhibitions on Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, forming a comprehensive exhibition series on Western classical civilizations. Its rarity and high curatorial standards make it one of the most outstanding exhibitions of its kind in Shanghai in recent years.

    Where Historical Significance Meets Artistic Excellence

　　Positioned as a “onestop encounter with the brilliance of Western classical civilization,” the exhibition unfolds across three major thematic sections—“Legends of Gods,”“The Glory of the Empire,” and “The Feast of Life” together, they present a panoramic narrative of ancient Rome, tracing its evolution from mythology to imperial power and ultimately to secular life. Behind each artifact lies a rich historical story, making the exhibition not only a concentrated display of cultural treasures but also a factual narrative of civilizational development.

　　The realism of ancient Roman sculpture, the exquisite decorative patterns of painted ceramics, and the luxurious craftsmanship of mosaic murals and gemstones all testify to the extraordinary creativity of ancient artists, offering visitors a visually striking and immersive experience.

    Diverse Experiential Scenarios Highlight Curatorial Innovation

　　The curatorial team builds a dialogue between history and aesthetics through the symbolic concept of the “TwoMountains.” Mount Olympus represents the spiritual and mythological order of ancient Greece, while Capitoline Hill signifies the political and religious center of ancient Rome. Through this visualized narrative of “mountains,” the exhibition poetically expresses the inheritance and transformation of classical civilizations. Departing from conventional artifact displays, the exhibition achieves innovative breakthroughs in both storytelling and visitor experience.

　　Beyond its rigorous presentation of cultural relics, the exhibition features multiple highly interactive and deeply immersive visual environments. Visitors can step into a three?dimensional scene where the gods gather, interpreting the “Oracles of the Four Seasons” amid dynamic light and shadow, and can also take on the interactive challenge “The Twelve Labors of Hercules.” In addition, themed photo?check?in spaces dedicated to five major deities—including Artemis and Aphrodite—balance in?depth narrative with social engagement, elevating the experience from an “archaeological history encounter” to a new form of urban cultural destination.

　　Enhanced Services and Upgraded Accessibility Enable a Cultural Feast for All

　　Beyond its high?quality curatorial content, the exhibition is complemented by a wide range of tailored services that further elevate the visitor experience. In terms of public education, a series of programs will be launched successively, inviting experts and scholars to engage with audiences face to face, deepening public understanding of ancient Roman civilization through dialogue and interaction. Exclusive exhibition merchandise will be released simultaneously, offering visitors the opportunity to take home a piece of their “ancient Rome memory.” In addition, plans are underway to collaborate with Jinjiang Travel to develop more integrated cultural, tourism, commercial, sports, and exhibition products, creating a synergized cultural consumption experience.

　　Tiered ticket prices cater to the needs of different audiences.

　　The exhibition offers a variety of ticket options to meet the needs of different audiences: including regular tickets priced at 88 RMB, discounted tickets at 68 RMB, children's tickets at 9.9 RMB, and three categories of free admission for certain groups. Visitors can easily purchase tickets through multiple platforms, such as Douyin, Damai, Maoyan, Ticket Planet, Ctrip, Maitao, and the official WeChat account of the World Expo Museum, where they can also find detailed ticketing policies.

　　Convenient access to the exhibition goes beyond public transport.

　　Visitors can take Metro Line 13 to the World Expo Museum Station or choose from several bus routes that directly reach the museum. Additionally, the World Expo Museum has partnered with Didi to offer limited-time benefits. From now until May 5, 2026, visitors can enter "Rome Rome" as the destination in the Didi app to receive exclusive taxi fare discounts.

The profound weight of civilization

　　Impossible to measure, yet the unique moments of "ROMA" are worth remembering.