The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest opens The Guardians of Eternity, a sweeping exhibition spanning more than a millennium of ancient Chinese history, centered on the era of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The star attraction: the world-famous Terracotta Army, thousands of individually modeled clay soldiers discovered in the 20th century guarding the emperor’s tomb. Wander the galleries to trace more than half a millennium of customs, religious traditions, and everyday life through objects that bring a distant world into sharp focus. Venue: 1146 Budapest, Dózsa György Road (Dózsa György út) 41. Photos are protected by the copyright of the Museum of Fine Arts – Hungarian National Gallery.
Guided Tours: Dates, Price, Logistics
Public museum tours run January 30–February 1, with more dates following: February 3; February 5–8; February 10; February 12–15; February 17; February 19–22; February 24; February 26–March 1. The tour fee is $4.10 per person, plus a valid exhibition ticket. Maximum group size is 18, and each tour lasts 60 minutes. Arrive at least 20 minutes early at the Museum of Fine Arts to pick up the tour-guide receiver and headphones in the Marble Hall; all headsets are disinfected after use. Prefer to bring your own earbuds? Tell the staff when you arrive.
Curator-Led Walkthroughs: Inside the Imperial Tombs
Go deeper with curator-led tours revealing the spectacle behind one of the world’s most dazzling archaeological assemblages. Dr. Györgyi Fajcsák, exhibition curator, and co-curator Judit Bagi guide visitors through the First Emperor’s daily life, imperial structure, weaponry, and the uniquely crafted figures of the terracotta ranks—while unpacking secrets from Qin and Han dynasty imperial tombs. Schedule: February 4 (Dr. Fajcsák), February 18 (Dr. Fajcsák), March 11 (Dr. Fajcsák), March 18 (Bagi), March 25 (Dr. Fajcsák), April 1 (Bagi).
Tickets and Practical Info
The full-price ticket for the curator tour is $22.60, including exhibition entry and the guided experience. Discount tickets are $13.30 for visitors eligible for at least 50% off general exhibition admission. As with public tours, arrive 20 minutes early to collect sanitized headsets in the Marble Hall. If you prefer your own headphones, let the team know on-site.
All Dates in Budapest
2026.02.03; 2026.02.04; 2026.02.05–02.08; 2026.02.10; 2026.02.12–02.15; 2026.02.17; 2026.02.18; 2026.02.19–02.22; 2026.02.24; 2026.02.26–03.01; 2026.03.11; 2026.03.18; 2026.03.25; 2026.04.01 — all in Budapest.
