Mammoths and megalodons to tour UK museums

The touring exhibition showcasing giant creatures which roamed the earth after the extinction of the dinosaurs will open at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in August before moving to Scotland in January 2026. 

The exhibition, developed by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and toured by Nomad Exhibitions, will feature life-sized 3D models and nearly complete skeletons, including the Otodus megalodon, the mightiest shark of all time, the Mammuthus primigenius or woolly mammoth, and Gigantopithecus blacki, an Asian primate similar in size to three orangutans.

There will also be interactive elements which allow visitors to step into the shoes of palaeontologists and biologists and engage with the scientific processes behind fossil discovery and reconstruction. Immersive projections will also transport visitors into the habitats of the creatures.

Giants will also highlight the need to protect current natural giants such as elephants, rhinoceroses and whales from extinction.

Zak Mensah and Sara Wajid, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Giants exhibition to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. This inspiring installation not only captures the imagination with its monumental scale but also delivers a vital message about sustainability and our shared responsibility to protect the planet.

“Birmingham Museums is committed to using storytelling to engage communities with the challenges of our time and Giants does exactly that in a powerful and accessible way.”

The exhibition will open at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on 2nd August 2025. Group visits must be booked in advance by contacting groups@birminghammuseums.org.uk.

Giants will move to the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh from 31st January to 14th September 2026. Groups of ten or more can book self-led tours of the museum and special exhibition at discounted rates.