Royal Ontario Museum

06/02/2026

Ready to culture-maxx this summer? 🌞

Whether it's a vacation or staycation, get the most out of Toronto with CityPASS, offering general admission to 5 of the city's top attractions, while saving you up to 38%!

Get yours here: https://www.citypass.com/toronto?mv_source=rom&campaign=social-fb

06/01/2026

A quiet lake in Ontario is making a lot of noise.

Sediments from the bottom of a small lake in Ontario are revealing a remarkable record of our impact on the planet.

Just outside Toronto, Ontario lies a significant site offering a unique, comprehensive 1,000-year record of human impacts - local, regional, and global: Crawford Lake near Milton, Ontario.

ROM’s exhibition “Crawford Lake: Layers in Time” offers an engaging look at the record of human life on Earth. On now until Sept. 13, 2026, Crawford Lake illustrates how everything from early agriculture to modern nuclear weapons testing has left its mark on this unassuming Canadian lake - and on the Earth at large.

05/30/2026

Thanks to Desjardins Group for its generous support of the School Visits Bursary program at ROM.

This vital funding helps remove financial barriers for schools, ensuring that thousands of students and educators from across the GTA can access ROM’s galleries, exhibitions and learning experiences.

05/28/2026

Confronting a subject long surrounded by taboo, this kaleidoscopic new exhibition invites visitors to engage with fresh, thought-provoking perspectives—reflecting on what psychedelics have meant across time and what they may come to represent in the future.

Psychedelics. Art. Culture. Science. opens at ROM June 6th.

https://www.rom.on.ca/news-releases/innovative-new-exhibition-exploring-art-culture-and-science-psychedelics-opens-rom

05/27/2026

Kick off the start of summer at ROM After Dark: Locally Crafted, on June 12!

Sip on local craft beers and wines, snack on bites from Toronto’s top spots, and catch exciting live performances. Tickets include a complimentary beverage and full Museum access.

Get your tickets in the link in bio!

05/25/2026

Do you know how to find the queen bee? 🐝In every honeybee colony, there is one queen bee who is responsible for producing more offspring, and beekeepers will mark her with a distinctive spot! Here’s a look bee-hind the scenes as installs a new hive at the Museum. You can find these bees at the Hands-on Biodiversity Gallery, on Level 02.

For more bee-related fun, check out our new exhibition, Bees: A Story of Survival, where you can journey into the world of bees in a new immersive experience, with art installations, soundscapes, and more.
This exhibition is created by National Museums Liverpool and designed by Artist Wolfgang Buttress. On at ROM now through October 18, 2026.

05/21/2026

Japanese tea ceremony is about experiencing a tea gathering, both as a host and a guest, while paying careful attention to detail and formal customs.

Practitioners of tea ceremony study and practice for years to master the proper ways to handle and appreciate many utensils. Tea bowls, tea caddies, tea scoops, and incense containers are all cherished as artworks for both their appearance and for the way they feel.

These tea bowls are from our exhibition, Shokkan: Material Encounters in Japanese Art. On now until Sep 7, 2026.

05/19/2026

One of the questions we get most is “what should I study if I want to work at a museum?” - and the answer is, it depends! Museums are complex workplaces, with many people doing very different jobs - from curators and collections care, to human resources and finance.

Carly shares her personal advice, based on how she acquired her job as a Registrar in our Collections & Research department. Registrars help to manage everything that comes in and out of the building, including incoming and outgoing loans, and new accessions. Registrars make sure best practices are upheld, collections are cared for, and help everything run smoothly!

Here, Carly is walking through the exhibition Crawford Lake: Layers in Time. The lake has intrigued scientists for decades, and research on sediments at the bottom of the lake has identified it as having the best record of humanity’s impact on the planet. On now until Sept. 13.

05/15/2026

DYK that we have live mossy frogs in our Gallery of Biodiversity? 🐸

Hop on over this long weekend (we’re open on Monday!) and check out their recently refreshed digs.

05/14/2026

Is this the right head for this sculpture?

This glazed clay sculpture of a Luohan (羅漢) is one of the very first Chinese artefacts to enter the ROM’s collection in 1914, even before the museum opened its doors to the public. It’s covered with the bright sancai (“three-coloured”, 三彩) glaze scheme, dating back to the Liao or Jin dynasty (11th–12th century).

Wen-chien Cheng (Senior Curator, Louise Hawley Stone Chair of Chinese Arts) explains the various modern techniques we are using to learn more about this iconic piece in our collections.

05/13/2026

This is your sign to book a Private Group Walk with ROMWalks!

Get your steps in with this unique group activity that unlocks the stories of our city, from architectural gems to local secrets.

Perfect for team building or simply gathering with friends and family, Private Group Walks are available year-round at $15 per person (minimum charge $150). Learn more at the link in our bio or rom.ca/groups.

05/11/2026

Coming soon! BEES: A Story of Survival 🐝 on at ROM May 16-October 18.

Journey into the world of bees in a stunning new immersive experience that brings together the beauty of art with the power of science.

Through immersive environments, art installations, soundscapes, and more, learn about the life of bees and the world they inhabit. Enter a stylized honeycomb, take a moment to hear "like a honey bee", and experience changing patterns of light generated from the sounds of over 30,000 bees.

BEES: A Story of Survival is created by Museums Liverpool and designed by Artist Wolfgang Buttress. ROM’s presentation of this exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsor: Desjardins Group and Supporting Sponsor: 407 ETR

Image by Robin Clewley Photography. Courtesy of National Museums Liverpool. Used with permission.

Tickets available now: https://www.rom.on.ca/whats-on/exhibitions/bees-story-survival

05/05/2026

The application deadline for the 2026 IARTS Textiles of India Grant is almost here!

This grant of $15,000 CAD can be used anywhere in the world by anyone in the world, toward a project that enhances critical knowledge and awareness about Indian textiles, dress, or fashion. Applicants can include scholars, curators, educators, community leaders, artists and enthusiasts.

Learn more about the grant and how to submit your proposal on our website:

IARTS Textiles of India Grant--Call for Applications 2026 Category Textiles & Fashion Information about this image Category Textiles & Fashion Origins Inspired by a passionate ROM volunteer, the IARTS Textiles of India Fund celebrates the splendour and influence of Indian textile arts in perpetuity....

04/29/2026

These geese aren't going anywhere!🪿

Visit the iconic Canada Goose in Crawford Lake: Layers in Time, and see how many other geese you can spot in our Gallery of Birds!

04/25/2026

It’s time for our annual tradition! Here at ROM, these guardian lion sculptures stand at the Museum’s entrance, and are covered up during the winter. Now that it’s spring, we can finally remove these tarps from our ‘hibernating’ friends 🦁

04/23/2026

This National Volunteer Week, ROM celebrates the many volunteers who have been an essential part of the Museum for generations. 👏

ROM volunteers include groups in multiple areas of the museum, including Gallery Engagement, ROM Kids, Collections and Research, Youth Cabinet, and the Department of Museum Volunteers (DMV).

The Members’ Volunteer Committee, now known as the Department of Museum Volunteers (DMV), was established in 1957. Now more than 400 members strong, the DMV contributes over 45,000 hours of service in a typical year.

Their passion and commitment enable ROM’s mission to help people understand the past, make sense of the present, and come together to shape a shared future.

Countless visitors begin their time at ROM alongside volunteers, who play many different roles at the Museum: as visitor guides, gallery interpreters, docents, wayfinders, and more.

A huge thanks to each and every volunteer who gives their time, knowledge, and enthusiasm to make ROM thrive, all year round.

04/22/2026

Happy birthday, Issey Miyake! This dress and trouser set is made by the renowned Japanese designer in 1990. Though these pleats may look rigid, they’re flexible and add a distinctive texture to the clothing.

You can see this set in Shokkan: Material Encounters in Japanese Art. This groundbreaking ROM-original exhibition explores the profound connection between Japanese objects and the human sense of touch, known as shokkan—a vital element in the creation, appreciation, and circulation of Japanese art. Transcending the tactile sensations felt at the fingertips, shokkan is the personal, psychological impression of touch that is influenced by sight, sound, language, and memory.

On now until Sept. 07, 2026.

👚: Dress and trousers, 1990. Issey Miyake 三宅 一生 (Japan, 1938 - 2022). Polyester and Linen.

04/17/2026

Third Tuesday Nights Free is happening soon, on April 21! Ensure you book your free ticket in advance through our website to secure your spot.

Presented by TD Bank Group Ready Commitment, visit us between 4:00pm - 8:30pm. Experience all of ROM’s permanent galleries for free, or upgrade during your visit for a small charge and visit our special exhibitions. Third Tuesday Nights Free is accessible through the Museum’s Weston Entrance or President’s Choice School Entrance.

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Le 21 avril marque la soirée gratuite du troisième mardi du mois ! Réservez votre billet en ligne dès aujourd’hui.

Soyez des nôtres de 16 h à 20 h 30 et bénéficiez de l’accès gratuit aux collections permanentes et aux expositions temporaires pour un léger supplément. La soirée est une présentation du Groupe Banque TD , dans le cadre de sa plateforme La Promesse TD Prêts à agir. Veuillez emprunter l’Entrée Weston ou l’Entrée des groupes scolaires Le Choix du Président.

04/15/2026

Ouch! The woman in this print is in the process of getting a tattoo. The look on her face lets us know that the pain is so harsh she can’t help biting into the towel in her hand.

The textures on the towel and the woman’s kimono were created by using fabric in the printing process to add dimension to the paper.

This woodblock print is from our exhibition, Shokkan: Material Encounters in Japanese Art. It showcases over 80 objects, including textiles, armour, paintings, lacquer works, ceramics, prints, and contemporary art, many of which were made as integral parts of everyday life rather than solely for display. From the intricate texture of a matcha tea bowl to the “imagined touch” of a woodblock print, be inspired by the exquisite and innovative craftsmanship through highlights from the collections, paired with hands-on experiences that allow you to fully appreciate Japanese art.

Tsukioka Yosh*toshi 月岡芳年 (1839-1892). Looking Painful, from the series Thirty-two Aspects of Women, Meiji period, 1888, woodblock print on paper, 37.4 × 25.6 cm.

04/09/2026

Visit ROM for one last look at the installation Picnics and Pastimes, closing May 3, 2026.

This display offers a window into the pleasures, pastimes, and artistic heritage of Iran during the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736). A royal picnic, depicted on a large, treasured tile arch from the collections, is complemented by exceptional objects from the period.

Picnics and Pastimes is free with General Admission.

04/08/2026

What is this core from Crawford Lake, and how do we use it to understand the timeline of human activity on Earth? Soren Brothers (Allan and Helaine Shiff Curator of Climate Change) explains to us how to ‘read’ a core.

Just outside Toronto, Ontario lies a significant site offering a unique, comprehensive 1,000-year record of human impacts - local, regional, and global: Crawford Lake near Milton, Ontario.

Crawford Lake: Layers in Time offers an engaging, compelling look at the record of human life on Earth. The exhibition illustrates how everything from early agriculture to modern nuclear weapons testing has left its mark on this unassuming Canadian lake - and on the Earth at large - encouraging us to consider what record our activities and the decisions we make today will be left behind for future generations to uncover.

On now until Sep 13!

04/07/2026

We’re excited to share that Saturday Club is back starting this weekend! 🥳

Join us at one of the city's most creative and diverse day camps for over 80 years, offering an exciting array of fun, activity-based programs inspired by our world-class Museum.

Visit the link in our bio for a list of all the program offerings, running every Saturday Saturdays, April 11 - June 6, 2026 (excluding May 16), for kids ages 4-14.

04/07/2026

04/04/2026

It’s finally the opening day for the exhibition, Shokkan: Material Encounters in Japanese Art! (Bishop White Committee Curator of Japanese Art) helps explain what exactly Shokkan means, and what to expect from the exhibition.

This groundbreaking ROM-original exhibition explores the profound connection between Japanese objects and the human sense of touch, known as shokkan—a vital element in the creation, appreciation, and circulation of Japanese art. Transcending the tactile sensations felt at the fingertips, shokkan is the personal, psychological impression of touch that is influenced by sight, sound, language, and memory.

This first-of-its-kind exhibition showcases over 80 objects, including textiles, armour, paintings, lacquer works, ceramics, prints, and contemporary art, many of which were made as integral parts of everyday life rather than solely for display. From the intricate texture of a matcha tea bowl to the “imagined touch” of a woodblock print, be inspired by the exquisite and innovative craftsmanship through highlights from the collections, paired with hands-on experiences that allow you to fully appreciate Japanese art.

On now until Sept. 07.