FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2025
Phoenix to Welcome Back the World-Renowned Exhibition Pompeii: The Exhibition
The return of Pompeii: The Exhibition will feature over 150 original artifacts from Pompeii, including NEW artifacts and experiences to open for a limited-time engagement at Arizona Science Center
PHOENIX, AZ – The world-renowned traveling exhibition Pompeii: The Exhibition is set to return to Phoenix in November. The acclaimed exhibition allows guests to step back in time and experience one of nature's most powerful moments through the amalgamation of a plethora of priceless artifacts and multimedia productions. The collections are staged in 79 A.D., just hours before life in Pompeii was simultaneously fixed and lost in time for centuries by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The exhibition’s opening day is scheduled for Saturday, November 15 at Arizona Science Center. Patrons from across the region are invited to access presale tickets for the blockbuster exhibition at PompeiiTheExhibition.com or AzScience.org.
“The story of Pompeii’s destruction and preservation is well-known around the world for providing a perfect encapsulation of life during the Roman era,” said Tammy Stewart, Interim Hazel A. Hare President & CEO of Arizona Science Center. “It is a remarkable story that exists as both an ancient legend and an archaeological treasure, providing a one-of-a-kind snapshot of ancient history that we rarely ever see. We are honored to be entrusted with these archaeological treasures and are thrilled to welcome the return of this exhibition, last on display here in 2018, as we once again bring the Phoenix community closer to history and transport guests back in time to a period of splendor and a day of timeless catastrophe.”
On August 24, 79 A.D., the city of Pompeii, a thriving port of the Roman Empire, was frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, burying the city and its people. Remarkably, the same ash and debris from Vesuvius’ unexpected eruption that destroyed the city also preserved it until archaeologists stumbled upon the lost city more than 1,700 years later. The conservation of the city has provided our world with a rare and unique record of Pompeii’s daily life – roads, buildings, municipal services, paintings, mosaics, and more – encapsulated in pristine condition and highlighted in this exhibition.
POMPEII: The Exhibition tells the tale of a city hidden from view and forgotten for centuries through an incredible combination of artifacts and ground-breaking immersion technology. Guests can expect to see over 150 irreplaceable artifacts ranging from gladiator armor and weapons to vibrant frescos and statues, alongside beautiful jewelry, medical instruments, and cooking ware. Perhaps the most breathtaking artifacts are the full-body casts of those who perished during this incredible volcanic event. Each of these objects provides a comprehensive view of how the people of Pompeii lived, loved, worked, worshipped, and found entertainment before disaster struck. These artifacts are on loan from the unparalleled collection at The Naples National Archaeological Museum in Italy and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. They are supplemented by projections, audio, video, and photographic murals, which put guests in the middle of this lively hub on its most historic day.
Upon entering the exhibition, guests will be transported back to an idyllic Roman city with dramatic reconstructions of Pompeii and the nearby volcano through a stunning video recreation. They will then view the artifact gallery before witnessing thrilling gladiatorial combat through a holographic display. Following this, patrons are completely immersed in a brand-new 4D theater that takes them through the different stages of Mount Vesuvius’ eruption and simulates the massive impact on this ancient city. This all culminates with the reveal of full-body casts of twisted human forms, asphyxiated by extreme heat and noxious gases, forever frozen in time.
John Norman, President of NEON’s Artifact Division, producer of POMPEII: The Exhibition, spoke to the exhibition's fusion of history and technology saying, "The blend of scientific discovery and a media-rich way of retelling history allows visitors to experience the awe of nature and human ingenuity. We're thrilled to bring this innovative exhibition to Phoenix and provide guests with the ability to travel through time and immerse themselves in Pompeii with breathtaking, real-life examples of archeology, geology, earth science, art history, culture, and more.”
Pompeii: The Exhibition opens Saturday, November 15, for a limited time. To enjoy this special exhibition, a separate timed-entry ticket is needed. The premium exhibition ticket, which includes the audio guide, is $20.00. A general admission ticket to the Science Center is also required. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. To view all pricing, visit AzScience.org.
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About Arizona Science Center
Located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona Science Center features more than 300 hands-on exhibits, a five-story giant-screen theater, live demonstrations, traveling exhibitions, and exciting science programs. The Center offers programs for all ages, including Science on Wheels, CAMP INNOVATION, Teen programs, Professional Development, and Adults’ Night Out: Science With A TWIST. Whether onsite or at your location–get ready to embark on a hands-on STEM learning journey you’ll never forget. To learn more or to reserve tickets, visit azscience.org or call 602.716.2000. Follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About NEON
NEON is a global leader in creating and producing immersive experiences. NEON enjoys worldwide partnerships with The Walt Disney Company and Marvel Entertainment for Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. and Marvel Avengers Station: Evolution, 20th Century Studios for AVATAR: The Exhibition, Hasbro for Transformers: The Experience, NBCUniversal for Jurassic World: The Exhibition, and Lionsgate for The Hunger Games: The Exhibition. It also has a partnership with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment to produce two brand-new, unique global touring-themed art experiences inspired by the Wizarding World, open now in Brussels, Belgium, and D.C., slated to launch in 2025. The Company also partners with the governments of Peru and Egypt for their original artifact IP experiences, Machu Picchu, and the Golden Empires of Peru and Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs, respectively, plus authentic artifact tours Pompeii: The Exhibition, Mummies of the World: The Exhibition, Victoria the T. Rex and Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away. These partnerships have enabled the group to bring compelling experiences that leave lasting memories to millions of visitors in more than 60 cities to date globally. For more information, please visit www.neonglobal.com.
About Naples National Archaeological Museum
A world-class museum located in the heart of the city, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples houses one of the most important collections of classical archaeology in the world. Set in the massive 16th-century palace Palazzo degli Studi, the museum was founded by Ferdinand IV in 1777. Formed from the discoveries from the Vesuvian Excavations, which were at the time exhibited in Museo Herculanese in the Royal Palace at Portici, and his family’s extensive collection of art and Roman antiquities, the Farnese collection, today the museum holds over three million objects of archaeological and historic importance.
MANN is certainly the essence of Pompeii, and its important and vast collection of Vesuvian antiquities shows it. It is the museum of the capital of the kingdom of the Bourbons, the place where all the attention to Western values of classical culture begins. The museum includes an incredible patrimony: the world’s most important collection of classical sculpture, brought to Naples by the Farnese family and representing the evolution of Western sculpture; furthermore, MANN is the gate of the Italian culture and of Ancient Greece thanks to the discoveries made in the Kingdom of Two Sicilies; it has the second largest Egyptian section - after the one in Turin - with the peculiarity of having a lot of objects that appeared in Italy before the Napoleonic expedition, where you can discover the taste of the pre-Napoleon'’s Egyptian culture and owns a collection of nearly 2,500 documents written in Latin, Greek, and dialects of the Italic peoples. MANN boasts the richest and most valuable collection of artworks and artifacts of archaeological interest in Italy and is considered one of the most important archaeological museums in the world, if not the most important, concerning Pompeii’s history.