The National Picasso Museum invites you to an unprecedented immersion into the story behind one of Pablo Picasso's most iconic works, Guernica, in an exhibition titled The Metamorphoses of Guernica, running from April 8 to September 6, 2026. A virtual reality experience takes visitors on a time-travel journey, from the painting’s birth to the ruins of the Basque city. We tested it—here’s what we learned!
Guernica like you’ve probably never seen it before! The National Picasso Museum in Paris invites you to step into a virtual reality experience devoted to the painter’s masterpiece, titled The Metamorphoses of Guernica, running from April 8 to September 6, 2026. A unique immersion tracing the history of this monumental canvas that defined the 20th century, from its commission for the 1937 Paris World Fair to its enduring status as a symbol of peace.
Co-produced by Lucid Realities and VIVE Arts, this immersive experience welcomes both the curious and Picasso enthusiasts to traverse a sequence of landmark moments and locations, to better grasp the context and significance. Travel from the Spanish Republican Pavilion, where the canvas was first unveiled to the public among the ruins of the Basque town of Guernica after the bombing that inspired the painting, via the Parisian workshop at Grands-Augustins, where Picasso created the work.
Our take on the virtual reality experience The Metamorphoses of Guernica at the Picasso Museum:
A preview of what it's like before it opens to the public. A bit tucked away in the museum, the installation is still fairly easy to find. On arrival, you’re guided by a host who settles you on a swiveling stool (you remain seated the whole time and can turn 360 degrees), you don the headset, and you’re off. Without giving too much away, you’ll be guided through several scenes that uncover the story behind the artwork.
Our recommendations:
Nothing special—just be sure to ask for directions to the experience if you get a bit lost in the museum. It’s somewhat tucked away, but well signposted. Note that access is easier if you’re visiting the current exhibition, Henry Taylor, since the VR installation lies along the path.
If you’re worried about motion sickness or you’re not comfortable with virtual reality, don’t worry: since you sit throughout the experience, you’ll probably avoid nausea (to each their own, depending on how you experience VR). It’s a contemplative piece, so it shouldn’t trouble you.
Graphically, it’s quite aesthetically pleasing, and there are no shocking scenes. The explanations are also very clear, and you’ll likely leave knowing Guernica inside out—like we did. In short, the explanations are very accessible. Enjoy the experience!
You will be escorted on this journey by the voices of writer Juan Larrea, a member of the Spanish Republican delegation, and of Dora Maar, surrealist artist and partner of the artist. With the masterwork not on display in Paris and kept in Madrid, the virtual reality experience lets you view it in a new light within the Paris collections, available for 7 euros, from age 10.
Musée Picasso in Paris: prices, access, opening hours... All you need to know about the Paris museum
Musée Picasso in Paris: prices, access, opening hours... All you need to know about the Paris museum
