The Shanghai Museum unveiled an ambitious lineup of 12 new exhibitions set for 2026, including the largest exhibition of ancient American civilizations, the United Kingdom's National Portrait Gallery's debut, and the works of Zhu Da, one of the most iconic artists in Chinese art history, gathered from around the world.

The flagship exhibition, On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas, will run from July to October 2027 at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square, announced Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum, at a news conference in late January.

Following the success of the ancient Egypt exhibition, the show aims to be the world's largest and most comprehensive exhibition on ancient American civilizations, featuring over 1,000 artifacts that explore the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca, and other cultures.

Two immersive VR experiences will complement the exhibition. Secrets of the Rainforest: A Maya Adventure is jointly created by the Shanghai Museum and top Chinese VR developing teams; the Machu Picchu and the Spirit of the Condor experience is created by renowned immersive experience developer NEON Global, which won Best Use of VR at the prestigious Lumiere Awards.

With over a dozen museums participating, Mexico stands out as a leading contributor. Leading the list is the renowned Museo Nacional de Antropologia in Mexico City, which will lend nearly 300 artifacts. Other confirmed institutions include the Museo del Templo Mayor and the Museo Amparo. In total, the Mexican loans are expected to exceed 800 objects, representing a substantial commitment to cultural exchange.

From Peru, the Museo Larco in Lima, closely associated with artifacts from Machu Picchu (an ancient Inca ruin), will contribute a significant loan of 325 objects. This consignment is noted as the museum's largest-ever overseas exhibition loan.

A third participating country remains undisclosed for the time being. Further details regarding all international collaborations and the full scope of the exhibition will be announced in May, says Chu Xin, head of the museum's exhibition department.

The Shanghai Museum on People's Square will temporarily close from May 6 until late June for the Americas exhibition installation.

Among the most anticipated events of the year will be the largest-ever retrospective of iconic Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) painter Zhu Da (1626-1705), also known as Bada Shanren, commemorating the 400th anniversary of his birth.

Held from December to March of 2027, the exhibition will take place in the Shanghai Museum East's Chinese painting and calligraphy galleries, featuring nearly 180 works gathered from more than 20 institutions worldwide, including the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Tokyo National Museum.

Also at the Shanghai Museum East will be the first literature-themed exhibition held at the institution. Happening from March to July, Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling is the first time the UK's National Portrait Gallery is showcased on the Chinese mainland. Among the 135 artifacts, there will be the only Shakespeare portrait considered to have been painted from life, as well as the original manuscript of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will present an exhibition of jewelry masterpieces at the Shanghai Museum from November to May 2027. Its sole stop on the Chinese mainland, the exhibition will present a global history of jewelry through 192 treasures from The Met's collection, alongside selected Chinese pieces from the Shanghai Museum.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Museum will travel overseas to present an exhibition highlighting encounters and convergences between Chinese and Islamic civilizations at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, in the United Arab Emirates, from October to March 2027.