Five real Triceratops skeletons — the only herd of these dinosaurs ever found together — are heading to Auckland Museum this October.
The exhibition, called March of the Triceratops, opens on Saturday 24 October 2026 and runs until 26 April 2027. Auckland is the only stop in Australasia on the exhibition’s world tour.
The five Triceratops horridus were dug up over six field seasons near Newcastle, Wyoming, in the United States. Scientists found more than 1,200 bones and fossil fragments all together in one spot.
Experts believe the animals lived together around 66 to 68 million years ago. Until now, Triceratops fossils have almost always been found on their own, so discovering five together is giving scientists rare clues about how these three-horned dinosaurs may have lived in herds.
Auckland Museum chief executive David Reeves said seeing the fossils up close would be unforgettable. “To stand alongside five Triceratops and experience their size and unique appearance will be unforgettable,” he said, calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Exhibition curator Dr Anne Schulp said finding five Triceratops together was extraordinary, and that every single bone helps scientists build a clearer picture of how the giant creatures once lived.
As well as the real fossil skeletons, the exhibition will include life-sized models, animations and augmented reality experiences, so visitors can get up close to these ancient giants without leaving Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
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