The North Carolina Museum of Art Announces Its Fall 2026 Exhibition Schedule
Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), is pleased to share details of two new fall exhibitions, “Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile, from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston,” on view Oct. 17, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027, and “Nancy Baker Cahill: Ecologies of Scale,” on view Sept. 26, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027.
“This fall season we invite audiences to enjoy two incredible exhibitions that combine unique immersive and digital experiences with world-class international artworks and artists,” said Interim Director Katherine White.
Ancient Nubia has a long and glorious past, but it is frequently eclipsed in the public imagination by its northern neighbor, Egypt. This exhibition brings into the limelight the Kingdom of Kush, an important civilization in the Middle Nile Valley, introducing visitors to its powerful kings and royal women and the materials excavated from their tombs and pyramids during the Harvard University – Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition more than 100 years ago. Stunning displays highlight the longevity of this almost forgotten kingdom through its three main historical periods spanning almost 3,000 years, speaking to its cultural continuity and adaptation as well as its historical and political connections to pharaonic Egypt.
Throughout “Ancient Nubia” visitors will enjoy a variety of museum-designed interactive experiences developed to create multiple entry points into the story of Nubia, including an immersive replica of a royal tomb room, a digital archaeological dig for artifacts, and a design your own pectoral station created by the NCMA’s Teen Arts Council. The exhibition will highlight artwork of Nubia alongside an archaeological storytelling experience. “Archaeology is a thread that runs through the exhibition, and the various interactives will deepen both visitor engagement and understanding of the Kingdom of Kush. We are fortunate to welcome one of the largest collections of Nubian material culture outside Sudan and Egypt to North Carolina this fall,” said Caroline Rocheleau, exhibition curator and curator of ancient collections at the NCMA.
Also opening this fall, “Nancy Baker Cahill: Ecologies of Scale” bridges the museum galleries and the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park through Cahill’s unique blend of digital and analog media. On view Sept. 26, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027, this free exhibition includes site-specific experiences, video installations, sculptures, works on paper, and augmented reality (AR) projects that interweave natural and imagined worlds.
Outside of the East Building exhibition galleries, the AR artwork “Substrate” will be located in the ellipse in the park. Using a free app, visitors will be able to view and interact with the artwork from their smartphones or tablets while in the ellipse. Seamlessly interweaving the digital world with the real world, “Substrate” invites viewers to add specific and personally relevant cultural artifacts (artworks, films, books, poems, songs) to a living archive.
Additionally, in a special one-night event taking place in Gipson Plaza on Thursday, Nov. 5, a selection of the artist’s monumental immersive videos will be projected on the facade of West Building as part of the NCMA’s free After Hours monthly programming.
A media preview and first look for Ancient Nubia will be held in early October, invitation to follow. High-resolution press images for both exhibitions are available here (password: NCMAFall).
Exhibition Details
“Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile, from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston”
Oct. 17, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027
East Building, Level B, Meymandi Exhibition Gallery
$20 General Admission, free for Members, $17 Seniors age 65 and older, $12 Students (ages 7-22), free for children 6 and under
Ancient Nubia Exhibition Support
“Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile” is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, curated by Denise Doxey (Norma Jean Calderwood Curator of Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art). In Raleigh additional support is made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; Paula D. Burleson and Barry P. Harris IV; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions. Research for this exhibition was made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.
“Nancy Baker Cahill: Ecologies of Scale”
Sept. 26, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027
Photography Galleries, Gallery 3, Museum Park Ellipse, and Gipson Plaza
Free
Nancy Baker Cahill Exhibition Support
Organized by the North Carolina Museum of Art. This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the Hartfield Foundation and Libby and Lee Buck. Additional support is provided by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions. Research for this exhibition was made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.
For more details on the upcoming season’s offerings, visit ncartmuseum.org/exhibitions.
# # #
About the North Carolina Museum of Art
The North Carolina Museum of Art’s collection spans more than 5,000 years, from antiquity to the present, making the institution one of the premier art museums in the South. The museum’s collection provides educational, aesthetic, intellectual and cultural experiences for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. The 164-acre Museum Park showcases the connection between art and nature through site-specific works of environmental art. The museum offers changing special exhibitions, classes, lectures, family activities, films and concerts. The museum is located at 2110 Blue Ridge Rd. in Raleigh and is home to the People’s Collection. It is the art museum of the State of North Carolina, under the auspices of Gov. Josh Stein; an agency of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, guided by the direction of Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell; and led by Interim Director Katherine White. For more information please visit ncartmuseum.org.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility and strengthens community resiliency. For more information please visit dncr.nc.gov.
