September – December 2026

Fantasy stories have captured the imagination of people for generations. Perhaps you yourself like to lose yourself in tales of heroes and magic. But the stories we enjoy today have a much longer history than you might realise.

Here Be Dragons: The Anglo-Saxon Influence on Fantasy celebrates the lasting impact on Anglo-Saxon culture and literature on our world today. 2026 is the National Year of Reading and so to celebrate, this exhibition ties what often feels like a distant part of history with stories that are relevant to people today. From the works of Tolkien, a scholar of Anglo-Saxon literature as well as the author of some of the most beloved works in the fantasy genre, to Game of Thrones and many other Western fantasy stories, this exhibition explores the legacy of the Anglo-Saxons on stories that are loved by people today.

This exhibition was made possible thanks to the contributions of North East Museums, Durham University’s Museum of Archaeology, the Tolkien Society, Durham University Mythology & Folklore Society, Bertie Armstrong, Jay Johnstone, The Loathsome Worm, and David LeeJackson.