West London is set to welcome one of 2026’s most anticipated cultural highlights when Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold is unveiled at Battersea Power Station in February. Presented by NEON in partnership with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Egyptian Museum, this international exhibition promises a spectacular celebration of the power, artistry, and enduring legacy of Ramses II, one of history’s most iconic rulers.
Following acclaimed runs in Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, and Tokyo, the London presentation will be the exhibition’s exclusive UK stop, marking a landmark moment in Battersea’s continuing cultural evolution. Visitors can expect an extraordinary journey through Ancient Egypt, brought to life through immersive galleries and cutting-edge storytelling.
At its heart are almost 200 priceless artefacts, all over three millennia old, including royal masks, jewellery, amulets, richly decorated sarcophagi, and animal mummies. Many of these treasures have never before left Egypt, with a wooden coffin, once containing Ramses the Great’s mummy, being the highlight. An optional virtual reality experience further deepens the encounter, transporting visitors from the Tomb of Queen Nefertari to the monumental temples of Abu Simbel.
NEON’s Group CEO Ron Tan describes it as a “timely and extraordinary journey into one of humanity’s greatest civilisations”, uniting priceless artefacts with new ways of bringing Ancient Egypt to life. With many objects travelling outside Egypt for the first time, Dr Mohamed Ismail, Minister of Antiquities of Egypt, notes that London will witness “something extraordinary”.
Tapping Into Renewed Interest in Ancient Egypt
The appetite for Ancient Egypt shows little sign of waning, with recent exhibitions and screen successes underlining its enduring cultural pull. The popularity of Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience, which drew thousands of visitors to its exhibitions in London and Glasgow last year, offered a clear example of how strongly these ancient stories still resonate.
With its replica artefacts and cutting-edge multimedia, the exhibition moved beyond traditional museum displays into a sequence of theatrical set pieces, including a 30-minute film inspired by Egyptian creation myths, immersive VR journeys, and a striking holographic exploration of mummification.
This fascination extends well beyond exhibitions into entertainment and popular culture. Recent television and documentary projects such as Paramount’s Tut, the BBC’s Egypt, and Apple TV’s Bradley Walsh: Egypt’s Cosmic Code demonstrate a continued appetite for exploring Egypt’s mysteries on screen.
Elsewhere, Egyptian iconography remains instantly recognisable, echoing earlier pop-culture favourites like Michael Jackson’s Remember the Time and The Bangles’ Walk Like an Egyptian. The iGaming sector, in particular, has embraced modern Egyptomania, with new slot games like External Guardians Anubis and Scarab Rising joining well-established hits such as Eye of Horus: Rise of Egypt in capturing player interest. Together, these trends confirm Ancient Egypt’s status as a living cultural touchstone, one that continues to captivate contemporary audiences.
A Timely Encounter with an Ancient Civilisation
Bringing together rare treasures, immersive technology, and a renewed global fascination with Ancient Egypt, Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold feels perfectly timed. As Battersea Power Station continues its cultural rise, the exhibition promises a powerful encounter with one of history’s most enduring civilisations.
