Building on the success of the 2024 reimaging of the Royal BC Museum, we are excited to announce four fantastic new exhibitions, new IMAX® Victoria film and events as well as continuing to open more areas of the well-loved BC core galleries at the Royal BC Museum.
“Following our stellar 2024 lineup of Stonehenge and Canadian Modern, we are thrilled to share the Royal BC Museum’s inspiring and educational lineup of exhibitions for 2025,” says Tracey Drake, CEO of the Royal BC Museum. “These dynamic, diverse and thought-provoking exhibitions span space and time, ranging from 13th century India to 18th century Hong Kong, from the natural world to the supernatural realm of music superstars. The depth and breadth of the museum’s 2025 offerings are really astounding.”
The new exhibitions kick off February 14 with the 60th edition of Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is back with a fresh outlook on the stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife that call Earth home. See the adult Grand Title Winner, "The Swarm of Life" by local Canadian photographer Shane Gross, captured beneath the lily pads of a lake on Vancouver Island, where a mass of western toad tadpoles swims by. Wildlife Photographer of the Year runs until April 27 in the feature exhibition space.
While you are planning your visit for Wildlife Photographer of the Year, make sure to mark your calendars for the return of fan-favourite IMAX® classics and never-seen before alternative content with IMAX® Victoria Film Festival from February 21 – March 16. Check out IMAX® Victoria’s website for more information and stay tuned for which films will be featured this year.
Next up from March 28 through September 28 is Global Threads: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz. Step into a fascinating world of colour and discover how India’s vibrant cottons inspired global fashion trends, transforming everything from t-shirts to floral prints. Featuring 80 objects spanning 10 centuries and 4 continents, this original ROM exhibition showcases India's painted and printed cot¬tons, revealing their enduring impact on art, science and fashion.
Going back even further in time, IMAX® Victoria guests will travel back to the late Cretaceous to reunite with the apex of apex predators—Tyrannosaurus rex. With leaps in CGI wizardry and revelations in tyrannosaur paleontology over the past 25 years, the time has come to revisit the dino king on the biggest screen in British Columbia. T. rex, a Giant Screen Films production, opens at IMAX® Victoria April 14.
Joining Wildlife Photographer of the Year on the 2nd floor is Odysseys and Migration, April 18, 2025, to May 3, 2026. Developed by the Chinese Canadian Museum, Odysseys and Migration recounts unique migration journeys that have shaped the Chinese Canadian experiences and identities. From the 18th Century to present day, from Hong Kong to Vancouver to South Africa and Singapore, Odysseys and Migration follows the global spread of the Chinese population and the integral role they play in Canada.
Rounding out the current 2025 lineup is Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. From May 30, 2025, to January 25, 2026, feel the rhythm and discover how music has shaped the course of history and inspired social change with, Beyond the Beat. With artifacts ranging from Neil Young’s harmonica to masks worn by Snotty Nose Rez Kids through to Tegan & Sara and Public Enemy’s Chuck D, this exhibition showcases music as a powerful catalyst for social and political change with historical and contemporary examples.
Find something for everyone in 2025 as you circle the globe and journey through time with four incredible new exhibitions at the Royal BC Museum. Pick up a membership to enjoy it all.
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About the Royal BC Museum: The Royal BC Museum, which includes BC Archives, IMAX® Victoria and PARC Campus, is one of the oldest continually operating museums in Canada. A centre of learning and research, it strives to broaden our understanding of British Columbia through collections, exhibitions, outreach and community engagement. The museum celebrates the province’s diverse landscapes and the lives of the people who live here, enables research and knowledge sharing that advances our understanding of our world, and provides a dynamic place for discussion and reflection. IMAX® Victoria delivers educational and entertaining experiences that accompany the learning journey the museum offers.
The Royal BC Museum is located on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples, known today as the Songhees and Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt Nation). We acknowledge and respect the history of Indigenous peoples, who are our partners in museum matters and community alike.
To learn more about what is in store at the museum, including events, galleries and exhibitions visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
For information about PARC Campus, visit: PARC Campus | Royal BC Museum and Archives
