What’s On
Find out what’s on at our venues across Durham. From major exhibitions to family friendly craft sessions, tours, lectures and art workshops. We have something to interest everyone. You can also find out more about our regular groups and online exhibitions and events.
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Special exhibitions
Explore the range of new exhibitions online and across our venues
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Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum
This exhibition traces the extraordinary transformation of the Palace Museum over the past century - from imperial palace to world-renowned museum.
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Everyday Elegance: Daily Lives of Women in Late Qing China
Opening 16 May, an exhibition exploring the daily lives of women living in Late Qing dynasty China.
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Away from Home: the Untold Stories of Women Football Fans
An online exhibitions telling the stores of women football fans of Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC from the 1950s to the present day.
Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum
This exhibition traces the extraordinary transformation of the Palace Museum over the past century - from imperial palace to world-renowned museum.
Everyday Elegance: Daily Lives of Women in Late Qing China
Opening 16 May, an exhibition exploring the daily lives of women living in Late Qing dynasty China.
Away from Home: the Untold Stories of Women Football Fans
An online exhibitions telling the stores of women football fans of Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC from the 1950s to the present day.
Upcoming events
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Family Activities: Ancient Egyptian Super Sobek
Saturday 16 May, 20261:00 PM to 3:00 PMOriental Museum/filters:quality(70)/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/oriental-museum/whatx27s-on/oriental-museum-events-calendar/sobek.jpg)
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Creative Writing at the Museum of Archaeology
Saturday 16 May, 20261:00 PM to 3:30 PMMuseum of Archaeology/filters:quality(70)/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/museum-of-archaeology/Times-and-tickets.jpg)
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Family Activities: Cool Coral
Saturday 23 May, 20261:00 PM to 3:00 PMOriental Museum -
Buddha's Birthday
Sunday 24 May, 202612:00 PM to 3:00 PMOriental Museum/filters:quality(70)/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/whatx27s-on/events/Buddha-Head.png)
Family Activities: Ancient Egyptian Super Sobek
Saturday 16 May, 2026
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Creative Writing at the Museum of Archaeology
Saturday 16 May, 2026
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Museum of Archaeology
Family Activities: Cool Coral
Saturday 23 May, 2026
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
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Buddha's Birthday
Sunday 24 May, 2026
12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Online exhibitions
Explore our collections from home with our online exhibition programme.
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Reawakening Durham's Bioscience Collection
Explore the hidden stories behind the unique objects in the first ever exhibition dedicated to the Bioscience Collection.
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Eternal Ascent: Bentley Beetham and the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition
Marking the centenary of the 1924 Mount Everest expedition, the first Western, and ultimately tragic, attempt to climb the world's highest mountain.
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Student Art Prize 2025
View the artworks shortlisted for Durham University's sixth annual Student Art Prize, awarded in 2025.
Reawakening Durham's Bioscience Collection
Explore the hidden stories behind the unique objects in the first ever exhibition dedicated to the Bioscience Collection.
Eternal Ascent: Bentley Beetham and the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition
Marking the centenary of the 1924 Mount Everest expedition, the first Western, and ultimately tragic, attempt to climb the world's highest mountain.
Student Art Prize 2025
View the artworks shortlisted for Durham University's sixth annual Student Art Prize, awarded in 2025.
Join our Friends
Our Botanic Garden, Oriental Museum and Palace Green Library all have Friends organisations which organise events and lectures including special members-only experiences.
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Regular activities
Durham University Library and Collections offer a range of fun, engaging and accessible workshops, resources and experiences for people of all ages.
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Creative Age
Creative Age is a free, weekly art group for people living with dementia or other long-term health challenges and their carers.
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Durham Archaeology Explorers
Our archaeology club for children aged 7 - 11, meeting monthly at the Oriental Museum as well as trips to local archaeological and heritage sites.
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Little Dragons
Come along to Little Dragons under-fives group and explore the Oriental Museum's fantastic collections and exhibitions.
Creative Age
Creative Age is a free, weekly art group for people living with dementia or other long-term health challenges and their carers.
Durham Archaeology Explorers
Our archaeology club for children aged 7 - 11, meeting monthly at the Oriental Museum as well as trips to local archaeological and heritage sites.
Little Dragons
Come along to Little Dragons under-fives group and explore the Oriental Museum's fantastic collections and exhibitions.
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