TORONTO.- This summer, ROM is 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.
