10 Viking exhibitions and events worth visiting in summer and autumn 2025

One thing we have noticed at The Viking Herald is that there is an absolute glut of exhibitions related to the Viking Age right now.

To help you pick out the right one for you, we thought it would make sense to present our very own guide to ten of the best. 

"Sea Ivories" explores ivory craftsmanship through artifacts such as the iconic Lewis chessmen, on loan from the British Museum. Photo: Paul Hudson (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Sea Ivories, University Museum, Trondheim, Norway

The Sea Ivories exhibition, held at the University Museum of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, takes a fascinating look at the role of ivory in Viking Age trade and craftsmanship. With a special focus on both Norse Greenland and the Trondheim area, the exhibition examines how the Viking trade in ivory showcases the artistic skill and seafaring abilities of the Norse.

The artifacts on display include several stunning ivory sculptures, while the exhibition also explores methods of sustainable subsistence hunting and conservation. Pride of place, however, goes to six chess pieces from the famed Lewis Chessmen, loaned to Trondheim by the British Museum.

York's DIG Museum, located in the former Church of St Saviour, is hosting the "How to Train Your Dragon School" exhibition. Photo: Tilman2007 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to Train Your Dragon School exhibition, Dig, York, England

The JORVIK Viking Centre in the English city of York always comes high on our list of recommendations. This summer and autumn, however, there is a very special reason to attend its sister attraction, the Dig Archeological Museum: Cressida Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon School exhibition. Rather than focusing on the hit movies and accompanying TV series, this exhibition puts the spotlight on the series of books by Cressida Cowell that inspired the Hollywood films.

Aimed primarily at children, the exhibition guides young visitors through Cowell's brand-new book, How to Train Your Dragon School, featuring hands-on activities and original sketches from the How to Train Your Dragon book series. There are also two intriguing related events to look out for in the historic city: How to Train Your Dragon School: Unleash Your Inner Viking and How to Train Your Dragon School: Writing Magic with Cressida Cowell. 

"Viking North," at the Yorkshire Museum in York, brings to light never-before-seen Viking artifacts from across northern England. Photo: Anthony Chappel-Ross

Viking North, York, England

Also in York, and just down the road from Dig, you will find the Viking North exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum. Recently profiled in The Viking Herald, the exhibition presents some never-before-seen artifacts as it tells the story of the Vikings in the north of England, from 866 to 1066. Highlights of the exhibition include objects from the Vale of York hoard and items from the camp of the Great Heathen Army at Aldwark in North Yorkshire.

At selected times throughout the year, visitors can also look forward to a series of actors performing the roles of people living in northern England during the Viking Age, who will teach observers about the artifacts on display. 

The Roskilde museum maintains an active boatyard where full-scale Viking ship reconstructions are built using traditional methods. Photo: Viking Ship Museum

Roskilde Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde, Denmark

The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark, remains one of the most impressive places to learn about Viking Age history in the world. The permanent exhibition presents the Skuldelev ships, five beautifully preserved vessels from the late Viking Age that were once used to provide a barrier of entry to Roskilde Fjord.

Though there are no new exhibitions this year at the museum itself, visitors can also make their way to the adjacent boatyard for another spectacular treat. Here, a reconstruction of Skuldelev 5, a 17-meter Viking warship, is underway. And if that's not enough, there is also the opportunity to ride Viking Age boats and ships on the fjord. 

Bygland's Viking Exhibition explores local archeological finds amid the striking natural setting of southern Norway’s fjord landscape. Photo: Hulshof Pictures / Shutterstock

Viking Age in Bygland, Bygland, Norway

For anyone interested in moving beyond the beaten track, this exhibition in the scenic Norwegian village of Bygland is definitely worth a look. The Viking Exhibition in Bygland, presented by the Museum of Cultural History, displays artifacts from local Viking Age archeological discoveries.

Visitors can explore tools, jewelry, and weapons, with interactive exhibits and reconstructions bringing the Viking Age to life. The exhibition highlights the craftsmanship and culture in Viking Norway, with a particular focus on what rural life was like in the era. 

The "World in Words" exhibition features ancient texts that reveal insights into Viking beliefs, laws, and legends. Source: Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies

World in Words, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, Reykjavik, Iceland

This unique exhibition held at the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies in Reykjavik opened in November of last year. World in Words is dedicated to the ancient manuscripts of Iceland, with a particular focus on the Icelandic Sagas, which narrate the heroic tales of the Viking Age.

In addition to presenting some of the oldest surviving copies of these incredible documents, the exhibition also presents Skaldic poetry and other documents related to the Viking Age. For conservation reasons, the selection of manuscripts is changed every three months, while the exhibition also offers colorful displays and historical details that provide context to the documents. 

Melbourne Museum is hosting the Galloway Hoard, a stunning collection of Viking Age artifacts discovered in southwest Scotland. Photo: National Museum Scotland

Galloway Hoard, Melbourne Museum, Melbourne, Australia

The Galloway Hoard is one of the most impressive Viking treasures ever discovered. Unearthed in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland, the hoard contains a dazzling array of Viking Age artifacts, including silver and gold jewelry, silk textiles, and even a remarkable lidded vessel believed to have been produced in what is now Iran, in the Sasanian Empire.

For the first time ever, the hoard has left the shores of the British Isles, traveling across the world to Australia, where it is currently being hosted at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. From August 26, however, it will move to Melbourne Museum in Victoria. Here, 90 Viking Age objects will be placed on display, with Galloway Hoard items presented alongside some other notable artifacts. The museum is also organizing a series of talks and discussions related to Viking Age archeology. 

In 2021, "Vikings before the Vikings" was named Best Temporary Exhibition in Estonia. Photo: Aron Urb / Saaremaa Museum

Vikings Before the Vikings, Vrak, the Museum of Wrecks, Stockholm, Sweden

Originally held in Estonia, the Vikings Before the Vikings exhibition has now moved to Vrak, the Museum of Wrecks, in Stockholm, Sweden. The exhibition presents the finds from a history-making discovery at Salme, on the Estonian island of Saaremaa. Here, two ships were discovered from the 8th century that suggested the Norse were already making raids at least 50 years before the attack on the Lindisfarne Monastery in England that traditionally signals the start of the Viking Age.

The exhibition presents information about the ships and Norse seafaring alongside the weapons and other possessions of more than 40 Scandinavian warriors who were buried in the vessels after falling in battle. Visitors can also try their hand at rowing a Viking ship and archery, and dress up in authentic Viking clothing, with plenty of costumes for both children and adults alike. 

The original serpent's head from the Oseberg ship is on public display for the first time. Source: George Alexis Pantos / Historical Museum, UiO

Miðgarðr – The mythical world of the Vikings, Historical Museum, Oslo, Norway

Miðgarðr – The mythical world of the Vikings is a new permanent exhibition at the Historical Museum of Oslo that opened on June 21 of this year. The exhibition examines Viking Age Scandinavia through a series of stunning displays that draw on Norway's rich array of archeological finds from the era.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is the original serpent's head that was originally attached to the prow of the Oseberg ship, but that has never previously been displayed to the public due to its fragile state. Other intriguing finds include a wooden carving of an Odin-like figure and a set of silver and gold ornaments from the Vulu Hoard from Malvik (four gold arm rings). 

Developed by historians, archeologists, and tech experts, Ragna is the centerpiece of a new Viking-themed exhibition at Orkney Museum. Photo: Orkney.com

Viking Gallery, Orkney Museum, Kirkwall, Scotland

Orkney Museum in Scotland is hosting a brand-new display that tells the story of individual lives during the Viking occupation of the Orkney archipelago. One notable highlight of the exhibition is Ragna, the UK's first ever AI-powered Viking character. Visitors to the museum can interact with Ragna, asking her questions about her own life and the Viking Age in general.

The exhibition also explores the general role of women in Orkney during the Viking Age and the everyday lives of people on the archipelago. The finds, on the other hand, showcase the rich Viking archeological heritage of Orkney, which was occupied by the Norse for nearly 600 years.

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