Looking for a bloody good time these school holidays? The Australian Museum has you covered, thanks to its globally acclaimed, award-winning new exhibition, dedicated entirely to bloodsuckers.
The Australian Museum has revealed details of its brand-new exhibition, set to take Sydney by storm. Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires is an immersive exhibition all about the bats, birds and mites that want to suck your blood.
Featuring more than 100 objects, specimens, large-scale models, digital interactives and installations, Bloodsuckers will offer an experience where science, pop culture and curiosity converge.
While it might test the nerves of the more squeamish visitors, the exhibition’s true draw is how it brings wildlife lovers face-to-face with nature’s most sophisticated micro-predators, leaving them with a surprising new appreciation for the tiny but highly evolved creatures.
Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, Ms Kim McKay AO, shared her excitement at the arrival of the exhibition, stating,
“Some of nature’s most extraordinary survivors often give people the creeps, but this new exhibition, Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires, showcases just how astonishing these species are. They have mastered the art of survival in ways that are impressive, demonstrating the power of evolution in action, playing critical roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
“By bringing this exhibition to Sydney, we’re inviting people to look beyond the misconceptions and engage with the science that shapes our world. Inspiring curiosity and deepening visitors’ understanding of biodiversity is at the heart of the Australian Museum’s mission.”
What to expect
Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires will feature everything from vampire bats to black flies, plus oxpeckers, candiru catfish and medicinal leeches, while also exploring the bloodsuckers’ impact on literature, mythology and popular culture.
One of the most exciting parts of the exhibition, and what makes it stand out from its previous showings, is its uniquely Aussie lens. For the first time, the exhibition will explore the special Australian bloodthirsty insects that can be found across the continent.
The exhibition will be sectioned into nine immersive zones, exploring the following:
- The biology of blood and why it is such a powerful food source
- The evolution of bloodfeeding over millions of years
- How to live safely and confidently with blood-feeding species
How to get tickets
General public tickets will go on sale on March 18, 2026.
Advanced adult tickets are priced from $28, with advanced children’s (4-15 years old) tickets priced from $15.
We’d recommend that visitors join the waitlist to receive discounted tickets, priority booking access and exclusive updates.
Current exhibitions at the Australian Museum
Surviving Australia
The Surviving Australia exhibition explores the incredible animals that have made remarkable adaptations to be able to survive in Australia’s diverse and unforgiving habitats. From eucalyptus forests to coral reefs and the outback, visitors can learn all about what it takes to thrive in various landscapes, across five different ecosystems: Prehistoric Australia, The Red Centre, The Enduring Bush, Our Island Home and Big City Life.
Price: Free.
Unfinished Business
Bringing together the voices of 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with disabilities, Unfinished Business spotlights these incredible participants from remote, regional and urban communities across Australia. Using 3D photography and honouring storytelling truths, the exhibition is a thought-provoking insight and recognition of the growing impact of colonisation and a call for meaningful social and systemic change.
Price: Free.
Wansolmoana
Wansolmoana, meaning “One Salt Ocean”, takes visitors through the diverse and dynamic cultures of Pasifika people, using stories and objects from across the region. The exhibition focuses on the cultural significance of the vast body of water that connects the islands and people across the Pacific region, and features important artefacts like a Tokelauan Vaka, a canoe fashioned from traditional wood from Tokelau and a rare Rotuman Suru, believed to be the first of its kind made since the 1800s.
Price: Free.
Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires
Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010.
When: Opens April 2, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets from $28, children’s (4-15 years old) tickets from $15.
