ROM abuzz with the fascinating lives of bees this summer

TORONTO, March 3, 2026 – Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is buzzing this summer with a new immersive exhibition that reveals the world of bees like never before. The product of 120 million years of evolution and with 20,000 known species, bees are vital to our planet’s ecosystems and essential to human existence. A fusion of art, science and technology, the exhibition invites visitors to step into the heart of a larger-than-life hive-like structure and get up close and personal with this small but mighty insect from May 16 to October 18, 2026. BEES: A Story of Survival offers an engaging multimedia experience and new ways to marvel at one of nature’s most incredible creatures – the bee. 

Debuting in North America at ROM, BEES: A Story of Survival was developed by National Museums Liverpool, in partnership with award-winning U.K. artist and sculptor Wolfgang Buttress, and is presented in Toronto by Desjardins Financial Group. This one-of-a-kind exhibition harnesses the beauty of art and the power of science to take visitors on a journey into the fascinating lives of bees.

“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."

Bridging the gap between sculpture, sound and science with stunning visuals, layered soundscapes, and multi-sensory environments, the exhibition will bring into focus the variety and complexity of this key pollinator. Using cutting-edge audio-visual technology, the exhibition explores the lives of bees from across the globe, transporting audiences into their world. Tracing a route through forests and meadows to a hive, audiences will follow a trail that evokes the path of a bee. By scaling up the intricate habitats of these diminutive insects, visitors will gain a more immediate understanding of bees and their wider importance in our environment. 

Moving through eight beautifully designed interactive sections, visitors will experience the remarkably complex anatomy of a single bee, the hive life of bee colonies, bees’ critical role in ecosystems, their relationship to humans and the natural world, and the threats they face today. With more than 20,000 species around the world, bees are essential to the planet’s biodiversity – but many are facing extinction.

“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.

The exhibition will delight museumgoers of all ages as they explore a series of intricate honeycomb structures while learning about some of the most fascinating bee species. Soundscapes developed by the artist, which pair musical instruments with the audio recordings of 40,000 bees, will evoke a lively hum that evolves as you move through the gallery – allowing visitors to feel as though they are themselves part of the hive.

Tracing a story of survival of a species that has lived on the planet since the age of dinosaurs, this exhibition will highlight the insects’ incredible adaptations over time. Specimens of local bee species from ROM’s collection will bring the ecological issue closer to home – helping visitors understand what they can do in their own backyards to save threatened bees endemic to Ontario. 

“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. 

A host of special events and public programs will accompany the exhibition throughout its run including a series of talks with leading experts in the field. 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 runs 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.

This exhibition is generously supported by the Royal Exhibitions Circle.

Image credits: Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens), Photo: AntoniaGuidotti/ROM.