Bologna opens immersive exhibition on Tutankhamun with Zahi Hawass

At Palazzo Belloni, Bologna, the exhibition “Tutankhamun: the tomb, the treasure, the curse” opened on October 3, a journey that reconstructs the discovery of the pharaoh’s tomb through over one hundred certified reproductions of the artifacts, dedicated scenography and virtual reality tools.

The opening featured Egyptologist Zahi Hawass as guest, who delivered the inaugural address. His presence accompanied the debut of an exhibition designed to give the public, through faithful copies of the original objects, the experience of the archaeological discovery without moving the artifacts from their original locations in Egypt.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors at Palazzo Belloni from October 3, 2026 to May 2, 2027, a span of several months that places the exhibition among the longest-running cultural events on Bologna’s autumn and winter calendar. The extended duration, unusual for a temporary exhibition, allows visitor flow to be spread across an entire season, from autumn through to the following spring.

The exhibition is based on the use of certified reproductions rather than original artifacts: a choice that allows the narrative of the discovery to be brought to venues far from Egypt, integrating it with digital tools such as virtual reality to reconstruct settings and phases of the find made in the Valley of the Kings.

The news currently comes from a single source, the organizers’ press release picked up by two outlets; no independent confirmation is currently available on further details beyond what has been released by the organizers themselves, including any attendance figures or collateral programs linked to the exhibition.

The exhibition, built entirely on certified reproductions and virtual reality technologies, aims to align public engagement with the historical reconstruction of the discovery, in a format that will remain open until spring 2027.