Each month we share our edit of the experiences opening around the globe that we think are truly extraordinary. Here’s what we think is worth checking out in February 2024…
If you’re working on an Extraordinary Experience you’d like us to consider for a future edition, please share it HERE.
17. Forsaken
Open now until 14 February 2024
Location: London, UK
Experience Sector: Immersive Learning
Proving immersive experiences can be used as an impactful way to educate as well as entertain, experience anchor Outernet London is screening a short film called Forsaken, which celebrates the beauty and fragility of the natural world, highlighting the animal species at risk of becoming extinct if we don’t start changing how we live. The 8k film – set to a sound design by Gareth Fry and accompanied by motion graphics – will run on a loop every day for an hour at 11am, 6pm and 9pm at the Tottenham Court Road venue’s immense, 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling, wrap-around screens until mid-February.
Produced by Frameless and animated by Cinesite, the film focuses on the extraordinary Immortal Jellyfish, which is able to regenerate and begin its life cycle over again. Carrying a sobering message about how the increasing destruction of life on our planet can’t be ignored, the goal is to inspire viewers to take action to help protect our oceans and the sea life within them. Look our for our forthcoming Future of Experiences white paper for insights into how productions like these intersect with the experience trends of Shared Reality and Experiences For Planet.
16. Mercer Labs (MOAT)
Open now
Location: New York, US
Experience Sector: Museums & Galleries
The Big Apple has a shiny new museum – Mercer Labs, Museum of Art and Technology (MOAT), which has taken over the iconic bank building at 21 Dey Street. Billing itself as “the first museum for New York where art and technology come together for an immersive experience,” the cultural hub will host a grand opening this month.
The project is the brainchild of Israeli artist Roy Nachum and real estate mogul Michael Cayre, and will boast fifteen unique immersive experiences set across 36,000 square feet on three levels that aim to “tease the senses using state-of-the-art technology”. There’s also a mochi bar and a retail concept store focusing on contemporary brands, limited-edition pieces, special collaborations, and original designs by MOAT’s magic makers.
15. teamLab Borderless
Opens: 9 February
Location: Toyko, Japan
Experience Sector: Museums, Immersive Entertainment
We’re inordinately excited for the re-opening of teamLab’s Borderless venue on 9 February, which has relocated from Tokyo’s Odaiba waterfront to its new home at Azabudai Hills. The immersive museum will form part of a mega skyscraper and underground complex spanning businesses and homes developed by Mori.
To kick off the project in style, the venue will showcase three new installations. Among them is Bubble Universe, which features reflective spheres with lights that react to each other and the visitors within the space, highlighting the importance of attendees as co-creators of the artworks. In the Flowers and People installation, guests see flowers growing, blossoming and dying, while Black Waves explores how all oceans are connected. Founded by Toshiyuki Inoko, teamLab has venues in Shanghai, Tokyo and Macao.
14. James Bond Shadow Of Spectre
Open now
Location: London, UK
Experience Sector: Competitive Socialising
If you’re a London-based Bond fan then listen up, as EON has partnered with real-world adventure game company HiddenCity on an interactive, treasure hunt-style game in central London called 007: Shadow Of Spectre that sees players use their phones to guide them through the adventure, stepping into Bond’s world and interacting with key characters to emerge triumphant.
Lasting around two hours, the plot finds James Bond unresponsive and Moneypenny needing players’ help to follow the instructions he’s left behind. Starting at a central London location, teams of two to six follow a trail of clues and gather intelligence to outsmart Spectre. The decision-making element of the game ensures that each team shapes the outcome as players engage in real-world interactions and conversations along the way to solve the mystery.
13. Riopelle Grandeur Nature
Open now until 9 March 2024
Location: Montreal, Canada
Experience Sector: Immersive Art
A new immersive show in Montreal aims to shine a light on Canadian painter and sculptor Jean-Paul Riopelle, best known for his abstract paintings and mosaic works from the 1950s. Breaking with convention, Riopelle abandoned the paintbrush, applying paint to his canvases with a palette knife, which gave them a sculptural quality.
The show, called Riopelle Grandeur Nature, was created to coincide with the artist’s centenary celebrations and offers a deep dive into works from different periods of his life and the natural world that inspired him. Using 360° video projection tech, infrared motion capture and a spatialised sound system, the studio of Les 7 Doigts has been transformed into a rich immersive universe evoking Riopelle’s vast studios and the landscapes he was influenced by, and will showcase original works by the Quebec-born artist.
12. Disney Symphony Of Colours
Open now
Location: Paris, France
Experience Sector: Themed Attractions
Bringing light and colour to the drab days of winter, Disneyland Paris has launched its Symphony of Colours programme, formed of three bespoke experience including Electrical Sky Parade, a nighttime parade featuring over 500 synchronised drones, lasers, video projections, lights and fountains across the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Set to electro-syntho music, the show pays tribute to the Main Street Electrical Parade, which ran from 1992 to 2003.
Featuring a troop of 30 dancers, A Million Splashes of Colour will make its debut on 10 February. The musical midday event celebrates characters from Disney and Pixar films, taking guests through classic and modern stories via two original scores and adapted renditions of songs from fan favourites.
11. The F1 Exhibition
Opens: 2 February 2024
Location: Vienna, Austria
Experience Sector: Themed Attractions
The civilised city of Vienna will play host to The Formula 1 Exhibition this month at the METAStadt Vienna. Following a successful run in Madrid that saw F1 Exhibition become the country’s biggest temporary show in 2023, the event is heading to the Austrian capital, where it will deliver an immersive F1 experience through six specially designed rooms spread over 3,000 square metres.
The showcase includes unseen photographs that take petrol heads through F1’s most defining moments. ‘Drivers and Duels’ celebrates the iconic drivers and legendary races through the sport’s history, while ‘Revolution By Design’ presents the breakthrough innovations in the sport and explores the new technologies that lie ahead. Don’t miss The Pit Wall, a show-stopping immersive experience that allows fans to relive the greatest moments in Formula 1 history.
10. Unextinct
Opens now until 8 March 2024
Location: Sacramento, California
Experience Sector: Zoos, Themed Attractions
Keen to bring back the magic and wonder of over 40 extinct animals that once roamed the earth, Sacramento Zoo has launched an immersive nighttime walking experience called Unextinct that allows animal lovers to get up close and personal with the creatures, some of which haven’t been seen for centuries. Using digital lighting, projectors and sound effects, Unextinct also highlights species that are critically endangered, including tigers, birds and fish.
The zoo’s mission is to help protect endangered animals, and it participates in breeding programmes to help boost threatened species numbers. The show’s creator launched Unextinct to tell an important animal conservation story, and shine a light on the human actions that are impacting animal habitats.
9. Gingerline The Incredible Edible Journey
Open now
Location: London, UK
Experience Sector: Immersive Dining
Having been busy spreading the Gingerline gospel in East Asia, the immersive dining legends are back in London with an exciting new take on their last UK show. The Grand Expedition has been remixed as The Grand Expedition: The Incredible Edible Journey, which will see guests travel the world via a series of theatrical rooms and animated projections at a secret central London location.
The new riff on the show will include new content, dishes, destinations and dance performances, so there’s plenty of reasons for fans to revisit. During the night guests are encouraged to take part in immersive games that bring different customs and cultures to life.
To keep an element of surprise, you won’t know what you’re eating until you sit down to dine, but you can expect four courses and innovative cocktails inspired by the direction of travel, which might include tea-smoked salmon with matcha and miso dash broth if you head to Japan via Siberia. A Victorian picnic will be served in each location.
8. Dynamic Explorer
Open now
Location: St Paul’s Bay, Malta
Experience Sector: Immersive Learning, Themed Attractions
Media-based attractions pioneer Triotech has launched a new immersive ‘edutainment’ experience at the Malta National Aquarium. Offering an enriching experience that fosters awareness and respect for the wonders of the ocean, Dynamic Explorer takes visitors on an underwater journey that fuses cutting-edge tech with special effects such as strobe lights and trap doors.
Open to all ages, the Dynamic Explorer has a capacity for up to 20 passengers, who are plunged into an underwater abyss during the simulated adventure. The trip is cut short by an encounter with a giant squid in a surprising twist that aims to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the fragility of marine life.
7. Shiki Dreams
Open now
Location: Denver, US
Experience Sector: Immersive Entertainment
Denver’s beloved yeti, Shiki, is back in a permanent home. The quirky creation of art and entertainment company Prismajic (co-founded by Jennifer Mosquera and Eric Jaenike), Shiki Dreams invites guests to explore the yeti’s mystical world and venture into his dreams.
The experience is part art installation and part journey, allowing you to connect with your inner child, explore metaphors and find your magic. With the help of over 35 Colorado artists, this dreamy universe offers an experience that combines art, nature and introspection. Oriented towards adults but loved by kids, the immersive adventure marries art and cutting-edge technology to transport visitors to the enchanting and surreal world inhabited by Shiki, leader of the spirits of the forest.
6. Enlightenment
Open now until 3 March 2024
Location: Lyon, France
Experience Sector: Immersive Entertainment
Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and Baroque music impresario Antonio Vivaldi is the latest maestro to be given the immersive treatment. Following on from a successful run in Zurich, the Enlightenment experience has landed in Lyon at the city’s historical Palais de la Bourse, which seems a fitting venue.
During the experience guests can explore Vivaldi’s masterpiece – The Four Seasons – through a rousing, 30-minute audiovisual experience spanning spring, summer, autumn and winter, which makes use of high-performance floor-to-ceiling projectors and lasers to immerse visitors into Vivaldi’s world. Having been planned with precision, the projections perfectly fit the proportions of the Palais de la Bourse, allowing art, music, technology and spirituality to collide.
5. Accidentally Wes Anderson
Open now until 17 February
Location: London, UK
Experience Sector: Museums & Galleries
If you’re a fan of the wildly popular Accidentally Wes Anderson Instagram account – and who isn’t – then be sure to swing by this new exhibition inspired by the iconic auteur film director. Split into seven themed rooms, the show takes visitors on a journey spanning 200 stunning (often ice cream-coloured) settings seemingly plucked from the whimsical world of Wes Anderson.
Offering a passport to visual inspiration via epic photography, curious stories and immersive moments, the show will have you seeing the world through Wes’ rose-tinted lens. Celebrating the charm of Anderson’s aesthetics, the exhibition is a love letter to travel, photography, nostalgia and adventure.
4. Pounamu Pathway
Open now
Location: West Coast, New Zealand
Experience Sector: Location-Based Experience
Wētā Workshop has partnered with Poutini Ngāi Tahu to create the Pounamu Pathway, a ground-breaking new tourism initiative on New Zealand’s West Coast celebrating the region’s cultural, historical and natural heritage. The immersive location-based experience weaves the rich tapestry of local heritage pūrākau (stories) from the West Coast via four interconnected experience centres: Māwhera (Greymouth), Awarua (Haast), Kawatiri (Westport) and Hokitika, which serve as gateways to captivating and emotive visitor experiences.
The most ambitious of the centres, Māwhera, takes visitors on a journey through the stories of the people of Poutini Ngāi Tahu and the Māwhera Pā settlement, on the very land where the Pā once stood. The experience focuses on the core themes of the Pounamu Pathway: ancestors, settlements, battles, legends and trade, represented in ‘whare’ (houses) built around a central courtyard space.
3. Play Playground
Open now
Location: Las Vegas, US
Experience Sector: Competitive Socialising
Perfect for adults keen to let off steam and indulge their inner child, Play Playground inside the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is the ideal attraction for those who want to partake in a spot of competitive socialising in Sin City. The brainchild of Play Social Inc, the 15,000 square foot space boasts over 20 larger-than-life nostalgic games, two bars, VIP mezzanines and private event spaces.
Open to kids during the day and adults only at night, there are no VR, AR or arcade games in the playground. Instead, it features tactile memory, puzzle and team games that hark back to a gentler time. The hotel will also be home to Particle Ink: House of Shattered Prisms, a trippy experience that explores the eerie place between waking and sleeping via projection-mapped technology.
2. The Real Van Gogh Experience
Opens: 2 February until 20 February 2024
Location: Chennai, India
Experience Sector: Immersive Art
The OG of immersive art experiences – Vincent Van Gogh – is getting another spin-off show in India this month. The Real Van Gogh Immersive Experience will take place in Chennai for a limited run and is expected to tour major Tier I cities across the country later this year, including Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune.
Using 20k high-resolution projectors, 33 million+ pixels and 10,000 square feet of projections, the exhibition takes art lovers deep into Van Gogh’s world and the landscapes in France and Holland that inspired his paintings. Through movement, music and an infinity room, the show aims to present a comprehensive view of Van Gogh’s distinctive visual perspective, offering an insight into his artistic journey and influences. The show features popular works such as Starry Night, Sunflowers, and Wheatfield with Crows, and Irises.
1. Delight
Opens now until 14 April 2024
Location: London, UK
Experience Sector: Immersive Entertainment
Having blazed a trail in Seoul, Delight has landed at Borough Yards in London. Offering a fresh and creative take on urban city life, the immersive art show is an exhilarating exploration of Seoul‘s history, life and identity that brings together the past and the present, the real and the imaginary, the distant and the familiar. Through the use of art, lighting, visuals, sound and augmented reality, visitors can delve into 1,000 years of history in South Korea’s capital.
The brainchild of Seoul-based artist Gyoungtae Hong and director Younsook Im Hong, Delight features 25 installations set across 12 immersive zones, including: Mind: Myth, Poetry Vanishes, Neon Nostalgia and Urban Pulse that spark thought-provoking questions about the neon city and its people. Visitors are encouraged to step inside and interact with the artworks, become a silhouette in the rain, feeling the rhythmic pulse of Seoul at night and bathing in moonlight.
