Catch the buzz as BEES: A Story of Survival opens at ROM

TORONTO, May 5, 2026 – This summer, ROM will be abuzz with the opening of a new experiential exhibition that explores the many facets of a fascinating everyday creature like never before.

Making its debut in North America, BEES: A Story of Survival – running May 16 to October 18, 2026 – offers a visually rich journey into the world of bees, allowing visitors to appreciate these key pollinators through a whole new perspective.

Bringing together sculptural art installations with cutting-edge technology to create an immersive experience – the exhibition presents a unique opportunity to see what the world looks like from a bee’s-eye view – and also learn more about what makes these remarkable insects so essential to the planet’s ecosystems. 

BEES: A Story of Survival was originally developed by National Museums Liverpool, in partnership with award-winning U.K. based artist Wolfgang Buttress, and is presented at ROM by Desjardins Financial Group. 

“Through vibrant soundscapes, digital interactives, and larger-than-life habitats, this exhibition immerses you in the sensory-rich world of bees,” says Jennifer Wild, ROM Interim Co-Director & CEO. “The result is an experience as transporting as it is illuminating, which deepens our understanding of bees’ essential role on Earth – and the urgent need to protect them."

This exceptional exhibition tells the story of the compelling lives of bees through a mix of innovative artwork, layered immersive environments, and a bespoke soundscape composed by the artist and his musical collaborators Karman Line Collective – featuring the recorded sounds of over 30,000 bees. Harnessing immersive audio-visual technology and an array of enveloping structures to create a unique harmony of art and science, BEES will inspire a whole new appreciation of these amazing creatures.  

Moving and insightful, BEES: A Story of Survival is a journey through a maze of digital interactives and art installations that offer close encounters with the complexities of bee anatomy, the inner workings of hive life, the vast diversity of bees, and a deeper understanding of the vital role that they play in sustaining ecosystems.

“Bees have a long evolutionary history, and they play a significant role in ecosystems across the world and right here at home. The exhibition will introduce visitors to this diverse group of native pollinators – Ontario alone has more than 400 different species – and offer a timely reminder that we all have a part to play in ensuring their survival,” says Dr. Doug Currie, ROM Senior Curator of Insects & Arachnids.

Beginning with a section on bee behaviour, visitors will make their way through a range of art experiences that bring to life the full life cycle of bees – from their connection to wildflower meadows and pollination, to how they see and hear the world – complete with immersive interactives and videos that illustrate these natural processes with captivating visuals.

“ROM continues to impress with its ability to deliver exhibitions that use art as a gateway to explore the natural world. The audio, visual, and sculptural elements of this exhibition give us a unique look into the history of bees and the crucial role they play in our ecosystem. This is an immersive art installation that is truly educational; one that visitors will be fascinated by this summer,” says Marie-Huguette Cormier, Executive Vice-President of Member/Client Experience, Cooperation and Human Transformation at Desjardins. 

ROM’s presentation of this international exhibition also puts local bees in the spotlight, with the inclusion of several native specimens from the Museum’s collections (including Toronto’s official bee, the Bicoloured Sweat Bee) – underscoring the need for visitors to better understand what they can do in their own backyards and neighbourhoods to ensure that all bee species continue to thrive.

Related programming
A series of special public talks, events, and workshops featuring leading experts in the field will take place throughout the exhibition run for those interested in learning even more about the fascinating lives of bees. 

Let it Bee workshops
May 31, 2026 & September 27, 2026 | 1 – 4 pm
Join gardening expert Lorraine Johnson to learn helpful tips and tricks to start cultivating native plant species that can support local pollinators like wild bees. With illustrated presentations and hands-on activities, this workshop will inspire new approaches to gardening that keep the local bees of Ontario in mind. For tickets and more details, visit ROM’s website here.

Weird & Wonderful Bees of the World
June 7, 2026 | 2 pm
Laurence Packer, a researcher whose life’s work has been the study of the more than 20,000 species of bees, presents a special talk on the wonderful worlds they inhabit and the sometimes-weird traits they display. This illustrated presentation will be followed by an onstage Q&A led by ROM entomologist Antonia Guidotti, highlighting how better understanding these organisms has a direct impact on their ability to thrive in a changing world. Visit ROM’s website here for more information and to reserve free tickets.

ROM Members will have the first opportunity to visit BEES: A Story of Survival during Member Previews on Friday, May 15,and Saturday, May 16. 

BEES: A Story of Survival is on at ROM from May 16 to October 18, 2026, and is organized by National Museums Liverpool, U.K. Desjardins Financial Group is the presenting sponsor of the exhibition at ROM.

Supporting Sponsor

Lead Exhibition Patron

Media Partner

This exhibition is generously supported by the Royal Exhibitions Circle.

Image credit: An African carpenter bee (Xylocopa inconstans) © Pete Carr Photography.