Minister of Tourism and Antiquities attends international press conference with 65 media outlets hours before the exhibition's official opening this evening
Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy this morning attended the press conference organized by the de Young Museum in San Francisco, United States, ahead of the official opening of the "Treasures of the Pharaohs" exhibition, which the museum is hosting from 30 July 2026 to 31 January 2027, at its second stop after Rome and the first of its US tour.
The conference received wide media coverage, with more than 65 media outlets including American TV channels, news agencies and newspapers, reflecting the great interest the exhibition and Egyptian civilization attract among American media and the public.
In his speech, Fathy said "Treasures of the Pharaohs" is an extension of the distinguished cultural cooperation between Egypt and the de Young Museum, being the third Egyptian archaeological exhibition the museum has hosted in the past two decades, after "Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh" in 2005 and 2006 and "Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs" in 2022 and 2023.
The minister noted that the successive successes of Egyptian archaeological exhibitions in the United States reflect the exceptional standing of ancient Egyptian civilization among the American people, pointing out that over the past ten years Egypt has organized 3 major archaeological exhibitions in 7 US states, which drew huge public turnout. This confirms the depth of American interest in Egyptian civilization, also embodied in the teaching of ancient Egyptian history in the sixth-grade curriculum.
The minister also reviewed close cooperation between Egypt and the United States in archaeology, explaining that around 50 American archaeological missions are currently working at various sites across Egypt, along with ongoing cooperation in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property and protecting cultural heritage.
He added that coordination between the two governments has led to the recovery of more than 60 artifacts in 2025 and 2026 that had been seized in the United States.
On tourist traffic, the minister said the US market continues to show strong demand for Egypt, with American tourist arrivals growing by 2% this year despite the challenges facing the region.
Concluding his speech, Fathy stressed that international archaeological exhibitions are an important window for introducing the world's peoples to the greatness of Egyptian civilization, inviting attendees to visit Egypt and enjoy its unique human heritage and diverse tourism and cultural assets.
The de Young Museum's management announced that tickets for the exhibition's first week are completely sold out, expecting more than 5,400 visitors during the first weekend after its opening, an early indicator of the huge public turnout expected.
The exhibition is set to open officially this evening, 30 July 2026, and will open to the public from 1 August 2026, running until 31 January 2027, before moving to its second US stop in Texas.
For his part, Dr. Hisham El Leithy said the opening of "Treasures of the Pharaohs" is more than the opening of an archaeological exhibition; it embodies an extension of the bridges of cultural communication between Egypt and the world, noting that the presence of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities reflects the Egyptian state's interest in strengthening international cultural cooperation and openness to all peoples.
He explained that international archaeological exhibitions have become one of Egypt's most important soft power tools, presenting Egyptian civilization as a universal language of dialogue and understanding and strengthening mutual respect between peoples. He also pointed to the historic success the exhibition achieved during its previous showing at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, expressing confidence that it will achieve similar success during its US tour, which begins in San Francisco.
Tom Campbell, Director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, praised the fruitful partnership with the Supreme Council of Antiquities in organizing the exhibition, saying its promotional campaign has spread widely across the city, with a large public turnout expected during its run.
After the press conference, Dr. Tarek El Awady, the exhibition's curator, took the minister and attendees on a tour of the exhibition halls, presenting the most important artifacts and the exhibition's display scenario.
"Treasures of the Pharaohs" features 130 artifacts carefully selected from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the Luxor Museum, along with a collection of pieces discovered at the Golden City on Luxor's West Bank by the Egyptian archaeological mission headed by Dr. Zahi Hawass. Documenting 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, they cover diverse themes including kingship, society, religion and funerary beliefs in ancient Egypt.
