National Museums Scotland News - News

Celebrations for Dolly the sheep’s 30th birthday

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:00:00 Z

National Museum of Rural Life to celebrate 25th anniversary

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:56:00 Z

The National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride will celebrate a quarter century with a day of special activities on Saturday 4 July.

Treasures of an Iron Age warrior go on display for the first time

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:00:00 Z

Objects from the richest Iron Age burial yet discovered in Scotland will go on display for the first time this weekend, in a new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland. The rare weapons, jewellery and fittings were found in the grave of a young man buried 2,000 years ago.

Families to build memories with LEGO® Bricks at the National Museum of Flight this Father’s Day Weekend

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 Z

Returning for its ninth year, the hugely popular Awesome Bricks event lands at East Lothian’s National Museum of Flight this Father’s Day weekend, 20-21 June.

Unique Roman brooch discovered in Scotland to go on display for the first time

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:54:00 Z

A one-of-a-kind Roman brooch discovered in Midlothian will go on display for the first time in a major new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire (14 November 2026 – 18 April 2027). Tickets for the exhibition – which will reshape our understanding of Scotland’s relationship with the Roman world - go on sale today, Friday 5th of June.

Historic tartan archive gifted to the nation will transform understanding of Scotland’s textile heritage

Mon, 18 May 2026 09:51:00 Z

An archive of almost 800 historic tartan samples has been donated to National Museums Scotland. The textiles were produced by J&D Paton, one of the largest tartan manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries, and have been gifted to the nation by Stuart Paton, the great great grandson of the firm’s founder.

Families to flock to the National Museum of Scotland for Woolly Weekend

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:05:00 Z

nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend

Woolly Weekend will return to the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride this month. The popular family event celebrates the wonderful world of wool, running on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May.

Dig up some fun this half term at the National Museum of Rural Life

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:00:00 Z

Spring has arrived at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride this half term. Dig into soil themed storytelling sessions and craft activities, and visit the new-born lambs during Spring Explorers, running from 14-17 April.

Bronze Age shield returns to Scotland for first time in over 200 years

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:14:00 Z

Six Bronze Age shields have been brought together for the first time ahead of a new exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland this summer. Dating from 3300 to 3500 years ago, the shields include the only intact examples to survive from Scotland.

Cloned sheep that paved the way for Dolly the sheep goes on show at the National Museum of Rural Life

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:01:00 Z

Morag the sheep – an important cloned predecessor to the world-famous Dolly the sheep - has gone on permanent display at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride as part of a new section exploring the role of science in agriculture, Scotland’s Farming Future.