Welcome to this month’s round-up of Extraordinary Experiences across all experience sectors and around the globe.
We’re into the penultimate month of the year and time is speeding by. While the mercury may be dipping in the Northern Hemisphere, our round-up of Extraordinary Experiences this month is red hot. Fans of the Dune film franchise can walk in Timothée Chalamet’s shoes and take a ‘test of humanity’ in LA, while at The Flamingo in Las Vegas boxing fanatics will be given a ringside seat into the tragedies, triumphs and transformations of ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.
On the music front, Pokémon fans who have grown-up with the franchise can head to The O2 in London this month for an epic night of electronic dance music (including a set from Marshmello) and electrifying visuals, while over at Netflix House in Dallas and Philly, KPop Demon Hunters lovers will be transported to Seoul at the streaming giant’s ambitious new immersive experience that includes interactive sets and cutting-edge 3D tech.
Virtual Reality is also on the menu this month, playing a pivotal role in Everest: The First Ascent, a dizzying VR experience that reveals the extreme beauty of the Himalayas and the emotional and physical toll of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s historic first climb of the mountain in 1953. If art is more your thing then head to Charlotte in North Carolina, where Renaissance masters Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti are pitted against each other in a VR experience that transports guests back to their studios in 16th century Florence.
Finally, the natural world is being put under the microscope around the world this month. In Munich and Cologne, the icy landscapes and intrepid inhabitants of the Arctic and Antarctic are explored at Polar Worlds, while over in Hawaii life beneath the oceans is brought vividly to life via full dome projection with binaural 3D audio. In the UK, the legend that is Sir David Attenborough will be bringing his particular brand of animal magic to a former ape house at Chester Zoo, which has been transformed into a state-of-the-art immersive space.
18. David Bowie On Tour
Open now until 15 February 2027
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Experience Sector: Immersive Entertainment
The V&A is taking over 100 items from its David Bowie archive on tour, and its first port of call is Dundee. Offering a rare glimpse into the singer’s creative process and enduring impact, many of the items on display at David Bowie: On Tour have never been seen in public before, including Polaroids for costume fittings. Spanning four themed sections, fans can discover the behind-the-scenes story of how Bowie created his ever-evolving image – including alter ego Ziggy Stardust – music and film work. Highlights include a some of Bowie’s most iconic costumes, a Ziggy Stardust-era acoustic guitar, scripts, handwritten lyrics, performance notes and costumes from Bowie’s final albums, The Next Day and Blackstar.
The opening space, ‘Bowie Through a Lens’, explores how photography shaped the singer’s image and identity, and features work by Terry O’Neill, Mick Rock, and Brian Ward. ‘All the Somebody People’, meanwhile, focuses on Bowie onstage and in the studio across four defining eras, revealing how he continually reinvented his sound and personas. The third section, ‘Hooked to the Silver Screen’, hones in on Bowie’s on-screen performances in music videos, film and TV roles. The final section, ‘I Can’t Give Everything Away’, explores Bowie’s interest in time, documenting his process and legacy. It’s a must not only for Bowie fans, but music lovers in general, allowing you to go on a deep dive into his life, mind and work.
17. KPop Demon Hunters: The Immersive Experience
Opens: 12 November 2026
Location: Dallas & Philadelphia, US
Experience Sector: Immersive Entertainment
It was only a matter of time before Netflix House launched an immersive experience themed around one of its most popular films. KPop Demon Hunters: The Immersive Experience lands at Netflix House in Philadelphia and Dallas this month, giving fans the chance to step inside the world of the film and be taken on a music-filled interactive adventure. Expect singing, dancing, demon hunting, and a chance to meet Sussie Bird and Derpy Tiger, who has been brought to life with puppetry created in collaboration with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
Attendees will be immersed in the story through interactive sets, cutting-edge 3D tech, music-based challenges with live actors and custom animation. Taking place in neon-lit Seoul, the experience starts backstage with HUNTR/X before opening night on the latest stop of their world tour and is set against hit songs from the film’s Oscar–winning soundtrack, including fan favourites Golden, How It’s Done, and Soda Pop. As is customary with any immersive experience worth its salt these days, there will be plenty of photo opps, themed food and drink, and a shop selling exclusive merch from the film.
16. Our Story With David Attenborough
Open now until 31 January 2027
Location: Chester, UK
Experience Sector: Immersive Learning
Following a successful run at London’s Natural History Museum, Our Story with David Attenborough is bringing its special brand of animal magic to Chester Zoo. The awe-inspiring immersive experience brings the history of our blue planet to life. Produced by Open Planet Studios, the 50-minute experience is narrated by Attenborough, who turned 100 in May. Expect to be taken on a journey through 4.5 billion years of the Earth’s history with the help of stunning cinematography, scientifically accurate animation, and 360-degree projections.
A former Ape House at Chester Zoo has been transformed into a state-of-the-art immersive space, allowing visitors to feel surrounded by the sights and sounds of the natural world through an original musical score by Nick Powell. Exploring the impact humans have had on the environment, and how people can work alongside nature to create a better future, the experience offers a powerful message of hope for our natural world, encouraging us to consider our relationship with nature and the choices that will shape the future of our planet.
15. Hello Kitty Beyond Cute
Open now until 26 November 2026
Location: Paris, France
Experience Sector: Themed Attractions
Everyone’s favourite Japanese cat has been given a dedicated experience in Paris this month. Masterminded by brand owner Sanrio, the Hello Kitty: Beyond Cute immersive experience was created off the back of research into the shifting interpretations of the word ‘cute’, with younger generations associating it with emotional connection, thoughtfulness and kindness. From a calming Matcha Room and 270-degree projections to interactive digital art, fashion collaborations and personalised accessories, the experience celebrates why Hello Kitty has been a global cultural phenomenon for over five decades across fashion, beauty and gaming.
Designed for fans of all ages, the hour-long experience explores the different aspects of cuteness through interactive installations, sensory environments and creative activities. The attraction is divided into three themed chapters: Calm, Play and Discovery. Each offers a different interpretation of what it means to go beyond cute. The calm space features a sensory tunnel to encourage moments of relaxation and reflection. The play area, meanwhile, invites fans to take part in collaborative games, while the Discovery zone asks visitors to get creative at a customised charm-making station.
14. Polar Worlds
Open now until 28 February 2027
Location: Munich & Cologne, Germany
Experience Sector: Immersive Learning
While Sir David Attenborough will be shining a light on the natural world at Chester Zoo this month, across the pond in Munich and Cologne, the Arctic and Antarctic will be celebrated in an immersive experience that will transport visitors to one of the most fascinating and vulnerable regions of our planet. Polar Worlds combines spectacular footage by renowned nature photographer Michael Martin, state-of-the-art tech, and scientific knowledge into a multi-sensory experience that brings the remote regions and its people thrillingly to life.
Pineapple Park in Munich will be transformed into an epic landscape of snow and ice, dancing auroras, and rarely seen Arctic and Antarctic animals. The show’s centrepiece is a room that transports you directly to the poles. Surrounded by a giant wraparound screen, you’ll be immersed in a computer-generated landscape where giant glaciers glide by, albatrosses circle overhead, orcas leap out of the water, and penguins waddle past. You’ll leave reflecting on how much climate change is already threatening these fragile habitats.
13. Pokémon Night Out
Opens: 10 November 2026
Location: London, UK,
Experience Sector: Music, Live Events
Don’t let the name fool you – this experience isn’t for kids. The diverse worlds of Pokémon and electronic dance music will collide at The O2 this month at an event celebrating 30 years of Pokémon. The video game and animated series franchise has created a live music event that brings together some seriously big-name DJs and electrifying visuals with the eclectic world of Pokémon. Called Pokémon Night Out, London is the next stop on the party circuit following a sold-out event at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
During the concert iconic Pokémon characters from the franchise’s 30-year history will be brought to life through cutting-edge stage technology and animations. Headlining the night will be DJ and producer Marshmello, with award-winning DJ Alison Wonderland kicking things off with a set to get the crowd moving. Masterminded by experience specialists Moment Factory, the event is built from scratch for Trainers and dance music fans alike. Die-hard fans should look out for the exclusive merch on sale and various surprises on the night.
12. Leonardo Vs Michelangelo: Epic Battle Of Genius
Opens: 12 November 2026 until 27 March 2027
Location: South Carolina, US
Experience Sector: Immersive Art, Virtual Reality
A mere 500 years in the making, this immersive experience brings together two of the biggest heavyweights of the fine art world: Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti. Pitting the two powerhouses against each other in North Carolina, the show explores their contrasting temperaments, artistic visions, and creative paths. Called Leonardo vs Michelangelo: The Epic Battle of Genius, the experience is the brainchild of Layers of Reality, the renowned studio behind some of the world’s most acclaimed immersive productions.
The journey starts with a historical event from 1503: the famous artistic duel at Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio, where both masters were commissioned to create competing murals. The exhibition brings this heated rivalry back to life and invites visitors to actively participate in a story whose finale depends on their choice. Spanning eight themed rooms, the experience includes monumental projections; a 3D immersive film that takes visitors inside the masters’ works; interactive installations inspired by Renaissance creative studies; and a virtual reality experience transporting guests to 16th century Florence and the artists’ studios. At the end you get to choose which artist you think is the ultimate master.
11. Hasbro Immersive Experiences
Open now
Location: Various, Global
Experience Sector: Immersive Entertainment
Entertainment giant Hasbro is going big on immersive entertainment this month, having unveiled a veritable feast of new immersive experiences and themed F&B venues around the globe. Taking place in locations across North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, new offerings including the third Peppa Pig Play Café in China and Brazil’s first permanent Transformers attraction: Mission Energon Gramado, which will open in Rio Grande do Sul.
Also on the menu this month is a Nerf coaster at Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro in Canada, Monopoly Experience: Treasures of Brazil in São Paulo, and two major new attractions in Saudi Arabia: Play-Doh Imagination Center at Seven’s Abha entertainment district and Transformers: Battle of Cybertron at the Al Hamra entertainment district in Riyadh. Expect state-of-the-art rides, interactive experiences, and themed retail and F&B.
We’re particularly excited about the opening of immersive murder-mystery dining experience Clue: Murder on the Menu in Charlotte, North Carolina. Set in the nostalgic world of popular board game Cluedo, the evening pairs dinner with live performance and interactive gameplay, allowing diners to get cosy with the likes of Miss Scarlett and Colonel Mustard.
10. Harry Potter Shop
Open now
Location: London, UK,
Experience Sector: Immersive Retail
Harry Potter is the gift that keeps on giving. The latest activation for fans of the boy wizard is a cavernous, 21,000 square foot themed retail store on London’s Oxford Street, which will open its doors this month. Devised by Warner Bros studio’s global experiences wing, the two-floor shop offers an interactive retail experience including recreations of the franchise’s most recognisable locations, as well as photo opportunities aplenty and exclusive merch. The London store will join major Harry Potter shops in New York, Chicago and Tokyo.
Located on the corner of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, the official Harry Potter London store opens on 4 November, in time for what is slated to be considerable activity around the 25th anniversary of the release of the first film in the franchise. London is already home to a small and incredibly popular Harry Potter shop in Kings Cross station, while Harry Potter studio tours operate at Warner Bros’ Leavesden base just outside London, and there are six Harry Potter theme park attractions at Universal Studios locations worldwide.
9. Sounds Of The Ocean
Open now until 30 April 2027
Location: Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
Experience Sector: Immersive Audio
Water babies should head to Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa this month to enjoy its new immersive experience: Sounds of the Ocean. Created by Embodied Sounds and led by musician and composer Joshua Sam Miller, the experience combines full dome projection with binaural 3D audio. Running until the end of April 2027, 10% of every ticket sold supports the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project, which protects wildlife in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: the largest marine protected area in the Northern Hemisphere.
Inviting visitors to slow down, relax, and connect more closely with life beneath the waves, through its combination of marine life sounds, music and visuals, the project takes audiences on an underwater odyssey while encouraging a deeper connection with the ocean. The Waikīkī Beach experience follows a successful run at Bishop Museum, and the decision to extend it grew from a belief that audiences in Hawaii are looking for meaningful ways to connect with and protect the ocean.
8. Kanal-Centre Pompidou
Opens: 28 November 2026
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Experience Sector: Immersive Art, Museums
Opening on 28 November, the Kanal-Centre Pompidou promises to put Brussels firmly on the international contemporary art map. The ambitious project grew out of a 2017 partnership between the Brussels-Capital Region, the Kanal Foundation and Paris’s Centre Pompidou, and was conceived to address the city’s lack of a major museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Occupying the former Art Deco Citroën garage beside the Brussels–Charleroi Canal, the 40,000-square-metre museum was designed by a consortium of architects including noAarchitecten, EM2N and Sergison Bates.
Spanning five floors of galleries, performance spaces, cinemas, workshops, a library and rooftop restaurants, the opening programme features ten exhibitions. Its centrepiece, A Truly Immense Journey, brings together over 350 works from the early twentieth century to today, drawing on the Pompidou collection, Kanal holdings and Belgian lenders. Visitors can discover exhibitions featuring artists including Otobong Nkanga, Manon de Boer, Joshua Serafin and Banu Cennetoğlu. Beyond visual art, the venue embraces architecture, film, dance, music and live performance, establishing Kanal as an ambitious, multidisciplinary cultural destination.
7. Everest: The First Ascent
Open now until 31 December 2026
Location: London, UK
Experience Sector: Virtual Reality
If you’d love to know what it feels like to summit Everest but can’t be faffed with the climb then this VR experience in London’s Camden is for you. Called Everest: The First Ascent, the experience transports intrepid explorers back to 1953 to relive Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay‘s historic first climb of the mountain. Expect to walk with their Sherpa through the high-altitude camps, visit glaciers, and live the nail-biting uncertainty of the final summit approach. The brainchild of VR specialist Eclipso, the experience was created with the help of a scientific advisory board of Himalayan, mountaineering and cultural specialists.
The 50-minute experience includes a brief onboarding session followed by a 35-minute VR immersion that combines virtual reality with storytelling to put audiences in the heart of the expedition, from Kathmandu to the summit of the world’s highest mountain. Going beyond photographs and documentaries, the experience is designed to be both educational and deeply immersive, revealing both the extreme beauty of the Himalayas and the emotional and physical toll of the climb. Created by Jean Dallac and Benjamin Auriche, The First Ascent previewed at Venice Immersive during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
6. Iron Mike Legacy
Opens: 19 November until 9 October 2027
Location: Las Vegas, US
Experience Sector: Themed Attractions, Immersive Entertainment
We’ve had immersive experiences dedicated to David Bowie, Elvis, Bob Marley and Frida Kahlo. We can now add ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson to the list as a new experience showcasing the legacy of the boxing legend is coming to the Las Vegas Strip this month. Masterminded by Caesars Entertainment, Iron Mike Legacy: The Mike Tyson Immersive Experience will make its debut at the Flamingo Las Vegas and will be rolled out around the world. Produced by Your ID, the experience is being billed as a ‘next-generation, multi-sensory phygital attraction’.
Charting the triumphs, challenges, mindset and transformation of one of the most iconic figures in sport, expect augmented reality, virtual reality, holograms and projection mapping. “Las Vegas has been the backdrop for some of the most important moments of my life and career. The city embraced me, challenged me, and helped shape the person I am today,” Tyson said. “This experience is deeply personal, and I’m excited for fans from around the world to step inside my story and experience the highs, lows, and everything in between.”
5. The Island Of Neverland
Open now until: 29 November 2026
Location: Madrid, Spain
Experience Sector: Immersive Theatre
Peter Pan’s Neverland is the inspiration behind this new immersive experience in Madrid that combines theatre, contemporary circus, dizzying aerial acrobatics, immersive sets and cutting-edge technology woven into a dreamlike visual narrative. Taking place at Espacio Delicias, The Island of Neverland transports ticket holders to the enchanted land where children can fly and fairies exist. Devised by the creative teams at LETSGO and Balinch Wonder Studio, who were behind the opening ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the story follows the life of Captain Hook’s daughter, Tempesta.
Enchanted by the beauty of Neverland, she must decide whether to continue the pirate’s wandering life or change her family’s destiny by staying in Neverland with the Lost Boys. But so does the audience. The show is presented as an interactive adventure, inviting visitors to choose a side: the Lost Boys or the pirates, allowing everyone to become part of a story that’s always evolving. The project’s creative directors, Simone Ferrari and Lulu Helbaek, have developed shows for Cirque du Soleil, so we’re expecting big things from the spectacle, which includes a walk-through exploration followed by the theatre and acrobatics show.
4. London Museum
Opens: 28 November 2026
Location: London, UK,
Experience Sector: Museums, Immersive Learning
After more than 45 years at its former London Wall home, the London Museum is preparing for an exciting new chapter, with its new Smithfield premises due to open on 28 November. The move follows the closure of the original Museum of London in 2022 and reflects ambitions to create a more accessible, spacious and engaging visitor experience. The £437 million redevelopment transforms Smithfield’s historic Victorian General Market, alongside the neighbouring Poultry Market, into an ambitious new cultural venue. Designed by Stanton Williams and Asif Khan, the restored buildings combine striking industrial architecture with contemporary gallery spaces, social areas, shops, cafés and event facilities.
The Smithfield museum is organised around three interconnected spaces: Real Time, Our Time and Past Time. Drawing on a collection of over seven million objects, exhibitions explore London’s history from Roman times to the present day. Highlights include the Cheapside Hoard of Elizabethan jewellery, Charles I’s execution vest, Banksy’s Piranhas artwork, the notorious Whitechapel Fatberg and Roman artefacts from the Bloomberg Collection. Visitors can also see the Lord Mayor’s Coach and Emmeline Pankhurst’s hunger-strike medal up close. A programme of events, performances and food-themed activities will further establish the museum as a vibrant social hub for Londoners and tourists alike.
3. Nubank Arte Lab
Open now
Location: Sao Paolo, Brazil
Experience Sector: Immersive Art
Inspired by the desire to make art more accessible, Nubank Arte Lab in São Paulo is the brainchild of cultural venue operator Aventura and creative technology studio Deeplab Project. Conceived in partnership with financial services company Nubank, the project offers a fresh approach to experiencing contemporary art. Located within the Conjunto Nacional building, the 2,700-square-metre venue has three adaptable spaces including a multipurpose gallery and two immersive rooms featuring digital projections, LED walls, mirrored ceilings and interactive audiovisual installations. The venue’s AV platform was designed and integrated by ON Creative Visual Tech Provider. There’s also a café, gift shop and infinity room.
Rather than housing a permanent collection, the venue offers a continuously evolving programme of exhibitions and installations spanning visual art, music, design and technology. Highlights include O Brasil de Tarsila, an immersive celebration of Brazilian modernist Tarsila do Amaral, bringing 40 of her works to life through 360-degree projections, sound and interactive scenography. Other projects include Jornada Muti Randolph + MAOTIK, an audiovisual collaboration exploring light, movement and sound. Future exhibitions will extend into literature, theatre and digital art, making the venue an exciting new cultural destination.
2. Dune The Experience
Opens: 20 November until 20 December 2026
Location: Los Angeles, US
Experience Sector: Immersive Entertainment
If epic sci-fi stories set in a distant feudal future where noble families fight for control of the harsh desert planet Arrakis float your boat then this immersive Dune experience is for you. The interactive, floor-to-ceiling walk-through attraction lands in LA this month promising a mixture of mystery and spectacle. Inside you can step inside awe-inspiring vehicles from the film, and come face-to-face with the Bene Gesserit, a group of priestesses able to bend the will of others. To test their willpower, attendees will be asked to take a ‘test of humanity’, which involves placing your hand in a box and being prepared for what comes next.
Intended to be shocking, participatory, and to put people on edge, the experience is laid out across a dozen themed rooms, each of which are designed for guests to spend around five minutes in. Different rooms explore contrasting sensations, with some emphasising touch, sound or visuals. Look out for hidden messages within ancient carvings, and spaces geared around photo opportunities, with Paul Atreides’ throne allowing fans of the film to do their best Timothée Chalamet impression. After the main experience you can process what you’ve just witnessed over Dune-themed food and cocktails at the in-house restaurant.
1. The Waldorf Project Chapter 5/Kaihogyo
Opens: 11 November until 20 December 2026
Location: London, UK
Experience Sector: Immersive Theatre
We’re beyond excited for the long-awaited return of The Waldorf Project, a series of radical large scale immersive theatre works from artist Sean Rogg that launched in London in 2012. Seven years on from its last performance, the concept has been revived in an ambitious new guise. Called Chapter Five/Kaihogyo, the experience will see 40 participants per night enter and endure a three-and-a-half-hour labyrinth staged at a secret Islington location. Inspired by the 1,000-day pilgrimage of Japan’s Tendai Buddhist monks in search of enlightenment, the experience is designed to induce an elevated state of consciousness without the use of drugs.
To bring the experience to life a former warehouse space has been transformed into a series of purpose-built physical environments designed to challenge perception and expand awareness. During their journey participants are led through the maze by a team of dancers who serve as guides and teachers through a sequence of disorientating environments. This is fully immersive physical theatre in which participants’ responses become an intrinsic part of the experience. At the end the journey culminates in a powerful finale designed to induce a transcendental ‘flow state‘ that creates a sense of empathy with your fellow pilgrims.
“This is arguably the most intense immersive theatre experience in the world that will push the participants to the edge of their comfort zones, challenging them physically, mentally and emotionally,” Rogg said. “I’ve spent the last seven years researching how to access transcendental states of consciousness without the use of mind-altering drugs. I’ve distilled my findings into an experience that uses meditation through movement to guide participants towards an elevated state of consciousness.” On entry participants have to give in their phones and don a Waldorf Project uniform. The experience isn’t recommended if you’re pregnant, or if you have claustrophobia, nyctophobia, asthma, or light-sensitive epilepsy.
