Think natural history is all ancient fossils, serious science and quietly reading display labels? Think again. Things are about to get wonderfully blocky at Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
Opening on 21 August, LEGO® SHOWS Natural Brickstory is a world-first, limited-time exhibition that transforms a staggering 13.8 billion years of natural history into an interactive adventure filled with building, creativity and hands-on discovery.
Yes, that is the entire history of the universe explored with LEGO® bricks. Suddenly, your childhood building skills feel like excellent preparation.
Where Science Meets Serious Brick-Building Fun
Designed for curious minds of all ages, Natural Brickstory brings together the museum’s extraordinary specimens, fascinating scientific stories and the irresistible urge to build something.
Visitors will journey through themed zones inspired by Earth’s history, wildlife and the cosmos. Along the way, they can join collaborative LEGO® builds, conduct playful experiments and explore scientific ideas through creative challenges.
Instead of simply learning about the natural world, you will help build your way through it.
Each activity encourages visitors to experiment, work together and ask questions. Why did certain creatures evolve that way? What shaped our planet? How enormous is the universe? And, perhaps most importantly, do we have enough bricks to build it?
The exhibition turns complex scientific concepts into approachable experiences that families can enjoy together. Children get to build and explore, while adults get the perfect excuse to rediscover their own LEGO® obsession. Everybody wins.
A Journey Across Earth, Wildlife and the Cosmos
The collaborative activities take inspiration from some fairly enormous subjects.
We are talking about billions of years of planetary history, remarkable wildlife and the vastness of space. Basically, the kind of topics that make your everyday problems feel delightfully tiny.
Across the exhibition, visitors will uncover stories from the natural world while adding their creativity to shared builds. The experience is designed to make science feel less like a school lesson and more like an adventure where imagination leads the way.
There will also be special trails and workshops, with more highlights set to be announced in the coming weeks. So, if the idea already sounds exciting, there is even more waiting in the wings.
Play Is Not Just Play
Behind all the colourful bricks and imaginative creations is an important idea: play can be a powerful way to learn.
Dr. Peter C. Kjærgaard, Director of Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, explained that play sparks curiosity, fuels imagination and nurtures creativity—the same qualities that drive scientific exploration.
Through Natural Brickstory, the museum is putting those qualities at the centre of the visitor experience. The goal is not simply to keep young visitors entertained. It is to help build the foundations for a new generation of scientists, explorers and guardians of the natural world.
That is quite an impressive outcome for something that may begin with choosing between a red brick and a blue one.
See the Museum Through a New Lens
The exhibition is also designed to offer a completely different way to experience Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
Alia AlHammadi, Acting Partnership and Commercial Department Director at the museum, said the collaboration invites everyone—from first-time visitors to dedicated LEGO® enthusiasts—to discover the museum from a fresh perspective.
By combining the universal appeal of LEGO® creativity with the museum’s scientific stories, Natural Brickstory creates an experience that stretches beyond the exhibition itself.
Once visitors have completed their brick-building journey, they can continue exploring the museum’s galleries. Remarkable specimens, immersive experiences, dining and retail make it easy to turn the visit into a full day out.
Because after travelling through 13.8 billion years of natural history, you will probably deserve a snack.
An Adventure for Every Curious Mind
You do not need to be a budding palaeontologist, a space expert or a master builder to enjoy Natural Brickstory. Curiosity is the only real requirement.
Families can build together. Children can learn through play. Adults can reconnect with their creative side while pretending they are only there to supervise. Even devoted LEGO® fans will find a new reason to explore the stories hidden throughout the museum.
Whether you arrive for the science, the specimens or the simple joy of clicking two bricks together, the exhibition promises an imaginative journey through the story of our natural world.
Just be warned: convincing the children—and possibly the adults—to stop building may become the day’s greatest scientific challenge.
Natural Brickstory Abu Dhabi: Essential Details
- Exhibition: LEGO® SHOWS Natural Brickstory
- Opening date: 21 August
- Venue: Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
- Availability: Limited time
- Weekday hours: 10 am to 6:30 pm
- Weekend hours: 10 am to 8:30 pm
- Highlights: Collaborative LEGO® builds, themed zones, trails, workshops and hands-on scientific discovery
- Suitable for: Families, children, LEGO® enthusiasts and curious explorers of all ages
If your family loves creativity, wildlife, space, science or simply building things that may or may not remain standing, Natural Brickstory deserves a place on your Abu Dhabi plans. Come for the LEGO® bricks, stay for 13.8 billion years of discovery.
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