Australia and China continue to strengthen cultural links with a historic exchange between our national museums.
A Memorandum of Understanding will see the National Museum of Australia's critically acclaimed exhibition Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters travel to the National Museum of China from November 2026.
Meanwhile, the National Museum of Australia will welcome the Terracotta Warriors exhibition on loan from the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre from December 2026.
This new exchange demonstrates commitment on both sides to continued collaboration across our arts and cultural sectors as enshrined in the 15th Implementation Program for Cultural Exchanges, a joint outcome of the Australia-China Annual Leaders' Meeting in June 2024.
Songlines is led by an Indigenous Community Curatorium and details an ancient First Nations creation saga across the APY (Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) lands of the central deserts, the Ngaanyatjarra lands in western Australia and the Martu lands in north-west Australia.
The Terracotta Warriors were created more than 2,000 years ago and their discovery is marked as one of the greatest archaeological events of the 20th century.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the exchange reflected a shared commitment to strengthening ties and understanding between the two nations.
"This exchange will provide Australian audiences with a rare opportunity to glimpse into a fascinating period of Chinese history.
"Likewise, Chinese audiences can look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of First Nations people's rich history and culture.
"Cultural exchanges are an important way to build mutual understanding and appreciation, and this agreement will serve to reinforce the important links between our countries, communities and cultural institutions."
National Museum of Australia director, Katherine McMahon, thanked both the National Museum of China and the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, for their collaboration on the cultural exchange.
"This historic exhibition exchange is the result of more than a decade of ongoing work in China by the National Museum of Australia.
"We are so proud to take Songlines to Beijing to introduce this epic First Nations creation saga to Chinese audiences, while Australians will be enthralled by archaeological treasures when Terracotta Warriors opens in Canberra."
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