Most New Zealanders will never get the chance to see Michelangelo’s breath-taking Sistine Chapel frescoes in person, so this summer under licence from the Vatican Museums, they’re coming exclusively to Christchurch!
Michelangelo – A Different View will be presented at Te Pae, Christchurch’s premier convention and exhibition centre, and brought to you by The Stetson Group — the team behind the record-breaking The Art of Banksy exhibitions in Auckland (2018) and Wellington (2025).
This once-in-a-lifetime event runs from 18 December through to 17 January, featuring over 50 stunning pieces, including a life-sized reproduction of The Genesis, famously painted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. But instead of craning your neck to look up, A Different View invites you to experience Michelangelo’s genius from an entirely new perspective – from above and up close.
This immersive experience, complete with audio guide, allows visitors to admire every intricate detail of Michelangelo’s work, many from just two metres away – offering a far more intimate and comfortable viewing experience than in the Vatican itself, where some 20,000 people queue daily for a glimpse.
Enhancing the exhibition further, VIP guided tours will be led by Dr Christopher Longhurst, a theologian and aesthete who served for 21 years as an operatore didattico at the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Museums’ Papal Art Galleries.
Dr Longhurst says Michelangelo – A Different View offers an up-close and personal view of one of art history’s most extraordinary, complex, and timeless visual masterpieces.
“Born out of an idea from The Stetson Group to give New Zealanders a different view of Michelangelo’s ceiling and altar wall, this exhibition offers unique significance for Aotearoa,” he explains.
“The 16th century Florentine’s frescoes absorb within themselves not only the great heritage of the classical world and cutting-edge science, in which our civilisation here in New Zealand has its roots, but also local indigenous knowledge. The images speak to us as they touch the points of intersection between art and science, faith and reason, antiquity and modernity, Māori mythology and the Bible.”
During the VIP visits Dr Longhurst will take you behind the scenes to unravel some of the major historical and artistic moments around the frescoes, welcoming questions and discussion along the way.
Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to encounter one of history’s greatest artistic achievements – right here at home.
Every ticket purchased is eligible to go into a draw to win an unforgettable trip to Rome for two, including entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. T&Cs apply.
| Te Pae, Christchurch | 18 December 2026 to 17 January 2027 |
| Tickets on sale via Stetsongroup.com Early Bird $39* | From 25 December $45* Children 12 and under FREE (must be accompanied by an adult) |
