Troy-themed exhibition planned for Rome’s Colosseum in 2026

International

Turkey and Italy agree on a major cultural project bringing Troy to the heart of Ancient Rome. Exhibition to combine museum works with a staged Troy Opera

A Troy-themed exhibition will be held at the Colosseum Archaeological Park in Rome in 2026, Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on Tuesday. The project marks another milestone in cultural cooperation between Turkey and Italy and follows a series of high-profile exhibitions presented at the iconic Roman landmark in recent years.

Troy to take centre stage at the Colosseum

“Once again, we are bringing Turkey’s unique cultural heritage to the heart of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum. Now it’s Troy’s turn,” Ersoy said in a statement shared on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal. He noted that the exhibition will introduce the UNESCO World Heritage site of Troy to international audiences in one of the world’s most symbolic archaeological settings.

The planned exhibition follows earlier showcases at the Colosseum, including Göbeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place and the Magna Mater exhibition, further strengthening the cultural dialogue between the two countries.

Bilateral agreement underpins the project

According to Ersoy, the decision is the result of bilateral talks held in Rome in September and Ankara in December. As a concrete outcome of these discussions, a mutual letter of intent was signed on 11 December, formally paving the way for the Troy exhibition.

Museum collections and opera combined

“The exhibition will be prepared with works selected from the collections of Turkish and Italian museums, foremost among them the Troy Museum, and will be crowned with the Troy Opera,” Ersoy said. The opera production will be staged by the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

With this approach, the story of Troy will not only be presented through archaeological artefacts but also interpreted through the performing arts. “The Troy narrative will this time meet international audiences in Rome through the performing arts,” the minister added, highlighting the project’s multidisciplinary character.

The exhibition is expected to further enhance Turkey’s international cultural presence and draw global attention to Troy’s enduring historical and artistic significance.