Page 47 - RLIJune2026

1 Barbie’s snowmobile, Dream Camper, boat and car. At its centrepiece can compete on iconic circuits in a high-energy atmosphere that mi-
is a fully walkable Barbie DreamHouse installation, accompanied by a rrors the glamour and grit of the Paddock Club. Beyond the track,
themed café and a branded retail space. With no shortage of nostalgia, the experience is elevated by its quality food and cocktail menu, fea-
this 2,000sq m experience brings together fans of all ages to celebrate turing globally inspired dishes and signature drinks crafted to keep
over sixty five years of style, inspiration and play! the adrenaline pumping after the chequered flag is waved.
As F1® Arcade continues its rapid international expansion, Madrid Now in its fourth year and firmly at home in London, ABBA Vo-
has joined the ranks of London, Las Vegas and Boston as a flagship yage continues to delight fans of all ages with a setlist of the band’s
city. The concept launched in the Spanish capital on 14 April and it biggest hits. ABBA Voyage is a virtual concert residency by the Swe-
represents more than just a new pin on the map. Madrid is a natural dish pop group ABBA. The concerts feature virtual avatars (dubbed
fit for this concept. The city’s deep-rooted F1® fandom, fuelled by le- "ABBAtars"), depicting the group as they appeared in 1979 and use
gends like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, combined with its sta- the original vocals recorded by the group, accompanied by a 10 piece
tus as a global tourism destination, makes it the ideal location for the live instrumental band on stage. The concerts are held in the ABBA
brand’s European debut. Strategically located near the Santiago Ber- Arena, a purpose-built venue in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in
nabéu Stadium, the venue sits in the epicentre of Madrid’s sporting London. Through cutting-edge technology, immersive lighting and
culture, offering fans a one-stop destination for world-class enter- ABBA’s iconic songs, the band performs on stage in a whole new way.
tainment. The venue features 68 state-of-the-art, full-motion racing Freight Island’s arrival at Eldon Square exemplifies an industry
simulators that utilise professional-grade motion technology. Guests shift towards immersive, experience-led destinations in retail envi-

2

1 2

1. Frameless, London, UK Main image: ABBA Voyager, London, UK
2. Eatrenalin, Rust, Germany 1. Bubble Planet, Cologne, Germany
2. Aquascope, Futuroscope, Vienne, France
brandt. FRAMELESS has rapidly become a cultural phenomenon dining, Eatrenalin was created by Thomas Mack, managing director of
in London, attracting broad and diverse audiences from around the the park, and gastronomy expert Oliver Altherr, CEO of Marché Inter-
globe by introducing new and accessible ways to experience art. The national. Guests begin in a futuristic bar, enjoying canapés before being
residency is suitable for all ages and offers a compelling experience called into the immersive experience. After a dramatic reveal, they’re
for both first-time visitors and seasoned art enthusiasts. FRAME- seated at individual table-and-chair vehicles, where they’re served their
LESS London has welcomed more than one million visitors from 96 meal while gliding seamlessly from one themed room to another.
countries since opening in 2022 and its Logomo residency is sure to Semmel Exhibitions, a creator of award-winning blockbuster ex-
be incredibly popular with visitors this summer. hibitions, has opened its touring exhibition, Bubble Planet, at the
At the waterpark Aquascope, which is the newest attraction from COLONEUM in the MMC Studios in Cologne, Germany. The
Futuroscope and situated in Vienne, France, families can share in experience follows a successful German premiere in Berlin and
the thrills and swim in a world of 1,001 colours. Covering more than demonstrates the country’s appetite for immersive, social and fa-
6,000sq m, Aquascope features three unique immersive and expe- mily-oriented exhibition formats. Bubble Planet presents a surreal,
riential areas, as well as an outdoor area that opens when the weather sensory world of iridescent bubbles, large-scale installations, optical
allows. Les Abysses de Lumière offers Aquascope visitors an immer- illusions, an Infinity Room, a giant ball pit and virtual reality. In Ger-
sive, sensory experience at the heart of an imaginary, poetic world many, the installation includes twelve themed spaces, designed for
integrating video mappings, light effects, media projections and cho- families, friends and the social-media generation. In Cologne, the
reographed water effects. A feat achieved with the help of Canadian launch of Bubble Planet at the COLONEUM in collaboration with
company Moment Factory, recognised worldwide for its artistic ex- EDUTAIN also demonstrates how new kinds of venue partnerships
pertise. The Sensations world offers a variety of attractions, including are pushing the boundaries of immersive entertainment.
eight waterslides (one of which is world-exclusive), a wave pool with Last September, Mattel deepened its global footprint in the loca-
a giant net and a dynamic outdoor river. Finally, in the children’s area tion-based entertainment market through a new collaboration with
there are adapted mini-toboggans, a water labyrinth, a musical cavern Wondr Experience Amsterdam entitled Barbie: The Dream Expe-
and a giant water bucket... children can have fun with water in a thou- rience. Visitors can take an immersive journey through six decades of
sand ways, under the watchful eye of Kraki, the site's mascot creature. Barbie at Barbie: The Dream Experience! There, you can discover the
Located within Germany's Europa-Park, Eatrenalin, a media-based, most iconic Barbie moments in history and experience life-sized repli-
multi-sensory restaurant, seats guests on dark ride vehicles for an ei- cas of unforgettable Barbie toys across 12 interactive zones. The layout
ght-course fine-dining meal. A world-first in luxury experiential fine includes life-sized replicas of iconic playsets and vehicles, including

46 Retail & Leisure International June 2026 June 2026 Retail & Leisure International 47