Royal Alberta Museum to explore life’s ultimate mystery in new exhibit
Albertans will soon have the chance to confront one of life’s most universal experiences in a thought-provoking new exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum.
Opening Feb. 26, 2026, Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery invites visitors to explore how cultures around the world understand and honour the end of life. The travelling exhibition, created by Chicago’s Field Museum in 2022, features 100 objects from anthropology, zoology, geology and botany collections, alongside interactive digital and sensory experiences—all designed to spark reflection on the final frontier of human experience.
“Alberta’s world-class museums offer unforgettable experiences, and we are excited to bring this incredible new exhibit to life at the Royal Alberta Museum,” said Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women. “Death will spark deep conversations and leave lasting impressions as visitors explore the mysteries of life’s final frontier.”
The exhibit highlights everything from fascinating animal adaptations for survival to cultural rituals that celebrate the lives of those who have passed. “The topic of death is personal and complex,” said Meaghan Patterson, executive director of the Royal Alberta Museum. “Through Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery, the museum invites Albertans to engage with life’s big questions in a safe and even surprising way. We look forward to presenting new perspectives and welcoming visitors to ponder the inevitability that unites us all.”
The Royal Alberta Museum is the first in Alberta—and only the second in Canada—to host the exhibition. Major support for the exhibit was provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc., with additional support from Alicia and Peter Pond.
Quick facts:
Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery runs Feb. 26 to Sept. 7, 2026.
The exhibition is presented in English and French and does not include human remains.
Admission is included with general museum entry, available online or in person.
The museum’s previous feature exhibition, Orcas: Our Shared Future, drew over 112,000 visitors.