Video: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DfSHGkkBEAV/">@idealbarcelona / IG</a>

Immersive Experience Reopens Renovated IDEAL Centre

The IDEAL Centre d'Arts Digitals in Barcelona's Poblenou district reopens its doors on Friday 6 November with the launch of Dinosaurium, the world's largest immersive experience dedicated to dinosaurs. Developed by Barcelona-based creative studio Layers of Reality, the exhibition marks the reopening of the venue after eight months of renovations and technological upgrades. The space has expanded to approximately 2,000 square metres, adding 400 square metres to its previous footprint.

Art, Science and Technology Combined

Visitors will journey through time across seven distinct zones, experiencing life-sized projections, virtual reality installations and interactive displays. A 360° immersive room features 27 state-of-the-art projectors and a 20-minute film narrating the evolution of dinosaurs across the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, accompanied by an original score composed by Rafael Plana and recorded with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. One area explores how dinosaurs have been imagined over the past century, while another showcases current paleontological research, including evidence that some species had feathers. The exhibition incorporates findings from the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, which provided scientific advice and helped determine the colour of dinosaur plumage through analysis of fossilised melanosomes.

The challenge was to avoid the Jurassic Park cliché and not make a La 2 documentary.

Interactive and Multi-Sensory Elements

A metaverse room features four virtual environments inspired by Rudolph F. Zallinger’s mural The Age of Reptiles, where visitors can interact with life-sized dinosaurs using VR headsets. Another VR experience simulates the asteroid impact that led to the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The exhibition also includes scent elements to evoke the atmosphere of the Mesozoic era and an interactive installation based on Hangar 51, enhancing engagement for younger audiences.

  • Opening date: Friday 6 November 2026
  • Location: IDEAL Centre d'Arts Digitals, Doctor Trueta street, Poblenou, Barcelona
  • Area: ~2,000 m² across seven zones
  • Developed by: Layers of Reality
  • Scientific advisor: Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont

Tickets are available via the official IDEAL website, offering timed entry slots to manage visitor flow.

Sources: 3Cat, viaempresa.cat, vamospanish.org, lado.mx (EFE).