The Beyond Van Gogh Immersive Art Experience Is Coming to Nanaimo in 2026

A new Instagram-worthy art exhibition is coming to Nanaimo on July 18.

No need to travel all the way to New York to see The Starry Night at the Museum of Modern Art—you can experience one of Vincent van Gogh’s most well-known paintings right here in B.C. as an immersive 360-degree projection at Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

Made for art lovers and families alike, the presentation (on until August 29) blends digital and classic elements to surround visitors with art, sound and storytelling inspired by the life and historical work of Vincent van Gogh. Organizers newly scaled the exhibit to a 10,000 square-foot installation (the smallest yet) and custom-installed it to fit the venue.

Produced by Paquin Entertainment Group, the experience will feature more than 300 of Van Gogh’s works in a projected environment, guided by the artist’s own words and a curated musical score.

For guests seeking an even more immersive experience, they can also book a 60-minute yoga session, held every Saturday at 8:45 a.m. in the space before the exhibit opens, with the ticket price ($75) including entry to the exhibit after the class. 

B.C. has previously welcomed a few immersive Van Gogh shows, with the popular 2021 show Imagine Van Gogh in Vancouver seeing thousands of visitors at the Vancouver Convention Centre. And in 2023, Beyond Van Gogh opened in Surrey and later Victoria.

Now, the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, the Port Theatre, the Nanaimo Museum and Tourism Nanaimo have partnered to bring the travelling art experience back to Vancouver Island. It’s estimated to draw up to 25,000 visitors and generate up to $6 million in economic impact for Nanaimo.

“Getting Beyond Van Gogh to Nanaimo took more than booking dates. It meant adapting the tour to a completely new hosting model and redesigning it for smaller centres, while aligning local partners behind a shared plan,” said David Warburton, artistic executive director at the Port Theatre, in a press release. “We pursued it because this kind of cultural experience should not be limited to major cities.”

The exhibition has also travelled to other Canadian cities like Calgary, Halifax, Ottawa and Winnipeg. For those planning a trip to the Harbour City in advance, early bird tickets (while quantities last) are on sale now.

Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 101 Gordon Street, Nanaimo, B.C.
Adults $50, seniors $45, children $35 (free for kids under 4) or family 4-pack $140
Tuesday through Sunday, July 18 to August 29, 2026
islandevents.ca