An overview is given on the experimental study of physics with relativistic heavy-ion collisions, with emphasis on recent measurements at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The focus here is laid on p–Pb collisions at the LHC and the corresponding d–Au measurements at RHIC. The topics touched are “collectivity and approach to equilibrium”, “high pT and jets”, “heavy flavour and electroweak bosons” and “search for exotic objects”.