BATA SHOE MUSEUM ANNOUNCES 2026 SPRING EXHIBITION OPENING
Unearthing Vindolanda: Footwear from the Edge of the Roman Empire
For the first time in North America, discover over 100 artifacts, including remarkably preserved Roman shoes nearly 2,000 years old, from Vindolanda, the UNESCO World Heritage site along Hadrian’s Wall.
TORONTO, ON (March 24, 2026) — The Bata Shoe Museum (BSM) unveils its 2026 annual Spring Exhibition, Unearthing Vindolanda: Footwear from the Edge of the Roman Empire, on view from May 7, 2026, to September 2027, presented in partnership with The Vindolanda Trust. For the first time in North America, the exhibition brings together more than 100 artifacts from Vindolanda, including exceptionally preserved Roman leather shoes dating back nearly 2,000 years.
The exhibition invites visitors to step into daily life at Vindolanda, a renowned Roman auxiliary fort and archaeological site located in Northumberland, England, near Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site. First occupied by the Roman army around 85 CE, Vindolanda remained an active military settlement for more than 300 years, serving as a vital outpost on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire.
“Vindolanda offers one of the most extraordinary windows into everyday life in the Roman world,” says Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator, Bata Shoe Museum. “The remarkable preservation of footwear at the site allows us to connect directly with the people who lived on the edge of the Roman Empire, from soldiers to civilians, including women and children. Through these shoes, we can see how clothing, identity, and craftsmanship shaped daily life nearly two thousand years ago.”
Excavations led by the Vindolanda Trust, the charitable organization responsible for the site’s excavation, education, and conservation, have uncovered a remarkable range of everyday objects left behind by the people who lived there. Among the most extraordinary discoveries are hundreds of leather shoes preserved in the site’s anaerobic soil, a rare archaeological phenomenon that has protected these delicate objects for nearly two millennia. Organic materials such as leather rarely survive in archaeological contexts, making the Vindolanda shoes one of the most important collections of Roman footwear ever discovered.
“The Vindolanda Trust is delighted to collaborate with the Bata Shoe Museum on the Unearthing Vindolanda exhibition,” says Barbara Birley, Curator at Vindolanda Museum. “We hope this internationally co-curated exhibition will engage new audiences and inspire visitors to connect with the rich legacy of the Roman past.”
One of the most surprising discoveries at Vindolanda is the presence of footwear belonging to women and children. For many years, historians believed these remote Roman frontier forts were occupied almost exclusively by soldiers. The discovery of these personal items reveals a far more complex picture of life at the edge of the Roman Empire, suggesting that families lived alongside the military, transforming what was once thought of as a purely strategic outpost into a thriving community.
“It’s impossible to mention Roman shoes without thinking about Vindolanda,” says Elizabeth Greene, Associate Professor of Classics and Canada Research Chair at Western University. “As the largest collection of footwear from anywhere in the Roman world, the collection is of vast importance for the study of dress and adornment in antiquity, manufacturing and trade, and the people now only visible to us by the shoes they once wore.”
Complementing the exhibition, The Roman Footwear from Vindolanda by Elizabeth Greene, one of the exhibition’s curators, will be released on April 15, 2026, and available for purchase at the Museum.
The exhibition, Unearthing Vindolanda, is accompanied by a series of public programs, lectures, workshops, and special events that bring the stories of Rome’s northern frontier to life.
Exhibition Related Programs
Spring Exhibition Opening
Sunday, May 10 from 12 pm – 5 pm
Admission: FREE
Guided exhibition tours, family-friendly crafts and games, and members of Legio XXX, a North American Roman reenactment group bringing history to life with immersive displays, stories, and material culture from the era.
The Edges of the Roman Empire Lecture
Wednesday, May 13, from 7 pm – 9 pm
Admission: $20 General
A dynamic lecture with Dr. Kate Cooper, Mirkopoulos Associate Curator of Ancient Greece & Rome at the Royal Ontario Museum and discover how the Romans expanded across continents.
Trivia: All Things Ancient Rome
Monday, May 25 from 7 pm – 10 pm
Admission: $25 General
Think you know your Caesars from your centurions? Join us for trivia night spanning legendary gods, infamous emperors, pivotal moments in Roman history, and modern-day pop culture inspired by the ancient world.
Lost Wax Ring Casting Workshop
Monday, June 1, from 7 pm – 9 pm
Admission: $240 General
A hands-on workshop that explores the ancient art of lost wax ring casting with the Fort York Metal Co.
Curator’s Talk: Unearthing Vindolanda
Thursday, September 17, from 7 pm – 9 pm
Admission: $25 General
A fascinating evening with archaeologist and co-curator, Elizabeth Greene, whose extensive research at Vindolanda has helped reshape our understanding of life on the edge of the Roman Empire.
Bata Shoe Museum
327 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1W7
Hours of Operation
Monday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 12 PM – 5 PM
Admission
Adults: $16
Seniors (65+): $12
Students (18+ with valid ID): $8
Children (5–17): $5
Children under 5: Free
General admission to the Bata Shoe Museum is free on Sundays.
Media Preview
First-look preview and curator interview
Tuesday, May 5
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Media looking to register, please email breanna@dmpublic.com
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ABOUT THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM
With a growing international collection of nearly 15,000 shoes and related artifacts, the Bata Shoe Museum showcases 4,500 years of footwear history in four distinctive rotating galleries. Through the creation of its innovative exhibitions, the BSM strives to enlighten and entertain visitors of all ages. For every shoe, there’s a story.
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For more information, media accreditation or interviews please contact:
Deanne Moser
DMPUBLIC
deanne@dmpublic.com
1-647-888-9388
Sarah Power
Head of Marketing & Communications,
Bata Shoe Museum
sarah.power@batashoemuseum.ca
416-979-7799 x225