The “Mediterranean 2050” exhibition has surpassed 500,000 visitors. During the school holidays, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco extends the experience with a program focused on the Mediterranean, including immersion, scientific discovery, and awareness. The activities run from this Saturday, December 20, 2025, until January 4, 2026.
During the Christmas holidays, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco offers an exploration of the Mediterranean through the “Mediterranean 2050” exhibition. This immersive scenography has just crossed the threshold of 500,000 visitors. This attendance marks a milestone for a course designed to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of the Mediterranean Sea.
The exhibition spans over 1,000 m². The journey invites visitors to travel through time. Visitors move from the past to a projected future. The story leads to 2050, at the heart of a Marine Protected Area. The scenario is based on a simple idea. The future state of the Mediterranean depends on the decisions made today.
The setup targets a broad audience. Families, groups, and individual visitors share the same experience. The proposal combines scientific content, interactive devices, and immersive storytelling. The Museum places this exhibition within a broader program designed for the school holidays.
An immersive exhibition in four stages
“Mediterranean 2050” is structured around four thematic areas. Each area addresses a different aspect of the Mediterranean. The journey begins with a look back at the long history of this sea. The memory of ecosystems and species is highlighted.
The second area focuses on the commitments made by the Principality of Monaco. Actions taken to protect the Mediterranean are presented. Fun devices help to understand the management mechanisms of a Marine Protected Area. Each decision affects the balance of the marine environment.
The third stage is a central moment of the journey. A 16-minute dive transports the public to 2050. The voyage takes place aboard a futuristic submersible in the Pelagos sanctuary. The setting projects a regenerated Mediterranean. Thirty percent of marine areas are protected. An immersive projection of 310 m² showcases ecosystems populated by loggerhead turtles, fin whales, groupers, sharks, and Risso’s dolphins. The reconstruction relies on a realistic approach.
The last area brings visitors back to the present. Visitors are invited to take action. The consequences of commitments appear in real-time. Each action is counted. The message is straightforward. 2050 is being built now.
A virtual dive into the heart of a Marine Protected Area
During the holidays, the Museum also offers the ImmerSEAve VR experience. This animation is based on virtual reality. Participants are equipped with the latest generation headsets. The experience lasts 13 minutes, for a total session of 30 minutes.
The journey leads to the heart of a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area. Posidonia meadows and coral cliffs form the backdrop. The dive reaches over 45 meters deep. A voice guides the discovery. Participants move freely in a virtual universe that reproduces protected marine ecosystems.
The goal is educational. The setup helps understand the impact of preservation actions. The Mediterranean appears as a living environment, whose balance depends on human choices. The experience is accessible from age 12. An additional fee applies.
Aquarium, conferences, and activities for the holidays
The Museum takes advantage of the holidays to present several new features. In the aquarium, the Jean Jaubert basin is highlighted. This historic reef is home to corals over 35 years old. The basin is linked to the history of coral fragmenting, a technique now widespread in aquariums.
The conference room offers a new audiovisual setup. Archive images and contemporary images are juxtaposed. A film and sound modules retrace over a century of history. The major figures linked to the protection of the Ocean are mentioned, alongside the Princes of Monaco.
Other activities complete the program. Meetings with seashore animals provide opportunities to observe crabs, starfish, and sea cucumbers. An escape game immerses participants in the universe of Princess Alice II, Prince Albert I’s laboratory ship. These activities are offered during the school holidays and weekends, by reservation.
