Lyon, France – L’Aquarium de Lyon is set to officially open a significant extension and deploy a new scenography on December 18, 2025, just days before the Christmas holidays. This strategic project marks a new phase of development for the Lyon institution, with a clear positioning around pedagogy, environmental awareness, and immersive experiences.
An Assumed Shift in the Visitor Model
Engaged in a deep reflection on the role of aquariums in the 21st century, L’Aquarium de Lyon is evolving its approach. The institution is moving away from a logic centered on the spectacular and the presentation of large captive animals, choosing instead to highlight ecosystems, their interactions, and their evolution.
Each tank is designed as a fragment of the ocean, telling a common story of behaviors, colors, and relationships between species. The Aquarium thus reminds visitors that the sea begins locally, in the waterways of Lyon that connect to the Mediterranean, and that ocean protection starts at the local level.
A 1,400 sq m Extension with Two New Spaces
The extension adds 1,400 square meters, with over 1,000 square meters accessible to the public. It is structured around two major new features.
The first space, named Ocean 360, offers a digital immersion over 300 square meters. This installation aims to convey the grandeur of the oceans without resorting to the captivity of large marine animals, combining sensory dimension with respect for living creatures.
The second component features three new marine ecosystems, dedicated to the depths of the Sea of Japan, a coral reef from Bali, and a Breton kelp forest. These environments showcase species rarely seen in aquariums, as well as growing corals resulting from the work of Lyon biologists.
A Project Driven by Scientific and Environmental Expertise
L’Aquarium de Lyon asserts a strong environmental commitment. Sampling from natural environments is limited in favor of animals from breeding programs, exchanges between aquariums, or reproductions carried out on-site. Animal health management prioritizes gentle solutions, with an 80% reduction in antibiotics in favor of alternative treatments.
This commitment is also reflected in the site’s management, with the installation of photovoltaic panels, a white roof to limit heat, and a plastic reduction policy. The institution also supports several initiatives for the protection of aquatic environments.
A Consolidated Development Trajectory
With this extension, L’Aquarium de Lyon enters a new phase of development. The stated goal is to reach 250,000 annual visitors, while also enhancing the hosting of events through new privatizable spaces.
Created in 2001 and acquired by Aspro Ocio in 2005, the institution currently employs 25 staff members, including three new hires linked to the extension. It features 42 ecosystems, approximately 3,500 fish, and welcomes an average of 220,000 visitors annually, including 20,000 schoolchildren.
The opening of the extension on December 18, 2025, confirms L’Aquarium de Lyon’s determination to consolidate its role as an educational and scientific actor within the economic and cultural landscape of Lyon.
Source: https://www.lyon-entreprises.com/actualites/article/laquarium-de-lyon-inaugure-une-extension-strategique-et-renouvelle-son-modele
