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Something extraordinary is marching into town… Often dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World, China’s life-sized Qin dynasty Terracotta Warriors are one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of all time. Now, members of the 8,000-strong army are returning to Australia in a brand-new exhibition, Terracotta Warriors: Immortality & Empire, which is opening in Canberra this summer before heading to Brisbane.
For more than 2,000 years, these ancient clay warriors stood guard at the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, in Shaanxi province. Their existence remained a secret until 1974, when unsuspecting farmers digging a well struck archaeological gold.
A rare delegation of eight Terracotta Army figures is marching into Canberra and Brisbane for this exclusive exhibition. Sure, eight out of 8,000 warriors feels a little measly, but ten is the maximum number of Terracotta figures China loans internationally at any one time – so we should feel pretty lucky!
Joining the warriors are more than 120 rare artefacts and replicas from ancient China, including animal sculptures, armour, tools, and weapons crafted from terracotta, bronze, stone and gold. Many of these treasures have never before been seen in the Southern Hemisphere and will be brought to life with a modern twist via immersive lighting, projection and spatial design.
Terracotta Warriors: Immortality & Empire marks the world-famous warriors’ first time back in Canberra and Brisbane in more than 40 years. The exhibition will be on display at Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia from December 11, 2026 to May 2, 2027, before travelling to Brisbane’s Queensland Museum Kurilpa from June 11 to October 31, 2027. Tickets start from $30 and are on sale now.