National Museum of Scotland

What's on

Exhibitions

  1. An array of bronze age weapons including a brown shield with a hole in the centre, a dark grey spearhead and a stack of green and grey short swords against a black background.
    Exhibitions

    Scotland's First Warriors

    –
    'Scotland's First Warriors' reveals the origins and impact of conflict in prehistoric Scotland.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

  2. A roman mask
    Exhibitions

    Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire

    –
    'Roman Scotland' will tell new stories of Roman occupation and reshape our understanding of Scotland’s relationship with the Roman world. 

    National Museum of Scotland

  3. Portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots dressed in a pink doublet lined with gold and pearls, looking stoically ahead against a blue background.
    Exhibitions

    Mary, Queen of Scots: Renaissance and Resistance

    12 June - 14 November 2027
    Few figures in Scottish history have captured the imagination like Mary, Queen of Scots. We are familiar with the story of her life, its dramatic events, and its sad ending on the executioner’s block. More than 440 years after her death,…
    Just announced

    National Museum of Scotland

  4. Yellow patterned jacket, with black and white accents, on a manequin.
    Exhibitions

    A Fashion Odyssey: Jean Muir, Bill Gibb, Zandra Rhodes

    –
    A Fashion Odyssey explores the work of three trailblazing British fashion designers - Jean Muir, Bill Gibb, and Zandra Rhodes.

    National Museum of Scotland

Events

  1. Woman and baby in arms sitting on the floor on a checked carpet.
    Events

    Magic Carpet

    Mon Sep 7 2026 - Mon 15 Mar 2027
    Explore the collection with our Magic Carpet sessions for under 5s. Inspire curious little minds through song, rhymes, movement and sensory play.

    National Museum of Scotland

  2. A close up image of a person in dark clothes against a grey background playing a set of wooden small pipes
    Events

    Music at the Museum

    Tues 27 Oct – Tues 2 Mar, 11:30 – 12:15 and 13:30 – 14:15.
    Join us for free live music performances, featuring folk, classical, traditional Scottish, and modern fusion styles.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

  3. A view of the Fashion and Style gallery in the National Museum of Scotland featuring four mannequins in different poses
    Events

    Members After Hours: Fashion and Style Gallery

    Tue 10 Nov, 18:00-19:00
    Join us for an exclusive Member opportunity to enjoy a private, curator-led tour of our Fashion and Style gallery after the museum closes to the public.
    Sold out

    National Museum of Scotland

  4. Dr Fraser Hunter looks at a reconstructed Roman arm guard. The brass arm guard now has a greeny patina.
    Events

    Member Preview Day: Roman Scotland

    Fri 13 Nov, 8:30 – 17:00
    Enjoy an exclusive Member Preview of 'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire' and see our newest exhibition before it opens to the public.

    National Museum of Scotland

  5. Events

    Member Preview Day: Curator Talks

    Fri 13 Nov, 11:00 - 11:45
    Join our exhibition curator for a Member exclusive talk on the highlight objects in 'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire.'
    Sold out

    National Museum of Scotland

  6. A person with a pram is talking to a museum worker, in the grand gallery at the national museum of scotland. The museum worker is at a small stand, with a sign saying 'Engagement team' behind them.
    Events

    Find Out Fridays

    14 Aug 2026 – 19 Mar 2027, Friday afternoon during term time 13:30 – 16:00
    Drop-in Friday fun for families of all ages.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

  7. A blue, white and turquoise decorated wall tile showing a figure on a white horse with a bird of prey resting on his hand.
    Events

    Perspectives: A guided LGBTQ+ tour of the National Museum of Scotland

    Fri 13 Nov 2026 and Sun 21 Feb 2027, 14:00 - 15:30
    Join this tour to learn about LGBTQ+ stories of love, longing, being, and belonging in our museum’s collections.

    National Museum of Scotland

  8. Young woman sketching on clipboard in front of wildlife exhibition
    Events

    The Sunday Sketch

    Sun 20 Sep 2026 – Sun 21 Mar 2027, 14:00 - 16:00.
    Join us to learn how to sketch, taking inspiration from the incredible collections on display in our museum galleries.

    National Museum of Scotland

  9. Events

    Annual Open Evening

    Thu 19 Nov, 18:15 - 19:15
    Join us for the Annual Open Evening to find out more about our collections and the work that we do across all our museums.

    National Museum of Scotland