The magical world created by J.K. Rowling unfolds across 3,000 square meters in Vienna, in an exhibition that will move to Paris in March.
Visitors can discover costumes from the films, imagine themselves at Hogwarts School, or even brew a virtual potion. This massive Harry Potter exhibition is making its first European stop in Vienna before heading to Paris this spring. After attracting “more than half a million fans” in Philadelphia between February and September 2022, this latest version of the beloved franchise will remain in the Austrian capital until March 19.
Following its stay in Vienna, the exhibition will move to the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre in Paris, as announced by American group Warner Bros. in a press release on December 19. Vienna was chosen for its central cultural significance in Europe, and despite high ticket prices (around €30), over 150,000 people had already reserved their tickets before the exhibition’s official opening on Friday.
An Interactive Exhibition Over 3,000 Square Meters
The exhibition, which takes place at the MetaStadt Convention Centre on the outskirts of Vienna, spans over 3,000 square meters. “It’s a great way to serve the entire region,” said Tom Zaller, CEO of Imagine Exhibitions, the company that helped set it up. Among the crowd was Minja Radovic, a 28-year-old student who travelled all the way from Serbia. “There’s so much to see,” she said, thrilled about earning “many points for Slytherin.” Visitors are given a bracelet that allows them to choose their favourite house, use their wands, and summon their “Patronus” – a protective spell.
The exhibition showcases characters from the Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts spin-off series, featuring props and costumes used in the movies. Visitors can also explore famous settings like the Hogwarts dining room, with its floating candles, and the iconic “cupboard under the stairs” where Harry Potter spent his childhood.
After the US and Europe, Latin America and Asia Await
Following its stops in Vienna and Paris, the exhibition is set to embark on a global tour, with plans to visit cities in Latin America, Asia, and other locations in Europe and North America, according to the press release. Launched in 1997, J.K. Rowling’s seven-part series follows the young wizard Harry Potter as he battles the dark wizard Lord Voldemort in a quest for immortality. The books have sold millions of copies, and the eight films have grossed billions of dollars. A video game, Hogwarts Legacy, is also set to be released in February.
