The exhibition Invisible Animals, produced by the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona, has been nominated in the category of Best Exhibition of the III Lectores +Historia Awards of the magazine Historia National Geographic, distinctions that recognize outstanding initiatives in the dissemination and promotion of history, heritage and culture throughout Spain.
The candidacy places the Museum among the five projects selected by the magazine in a category that values the originality of the exhibition proposal, its cultural and artistic value, the quality of the story it proposes and the research and curatorial work behind it.
In this third edition of the awards, Invisible Animals shares the nomination with the exhibitions Cleopatra (MAD Madrid), The Awakening of Life in Ancient Egypt (Vimcorsa Gallery), Victoria Eugenia (Gallery of the Royal Collections) and Templars and Hospitallers (General and Royal Archive of Navarra).
Awards decided by the public
The Lectores +Historia Awards are structured into six categories, each with five nominations selected by the magazine. One of its distinctive features is that the winners are chosen through a popular vote open to everyone, which will take place from July 27 to October 12, 2026, through the National Geographic History web portal. The results will be announced in the December issue of the journal.
Vote now
The first two editions of the awards have distinguished exhibitions of great relevance, such as The Last Days of Pompeii, by MAD Madrid, awarded in 2024, and Homo antecessor. The discovery of a species, from the Museum of Human Evolution in Burgos, winner of the second edition.
A fascinating journey through animals we can’t see
Curated by the writer and traveler Gabi Martínez and the naturalist and explorer Jordi Serrallonga, Invisible Animals invites visitors to discover those animals that, for different reasons, escape our gaze. From the legendary beings that are part of the collective imagination – such as mermaids, dragons or the yeti – to species that are difficult to observe in the wild, extinct animals such as the dodo or the Tasmanian tiger, or organisms that science studies with the aim of recovering their existence.
The exhibition, which can be visited at the Museum until 10 January 2027, combines pieces from natural science collections with works by about thirty artists from various disciplines, including Viggo Mortensen, Joan Fontcuberta, Antoni Muntadas, Txema Salvans and Lily Brick. Structured in four areas – Myth, Life, Extinction and De-extinction – the exhibition proposes an immersive experience that combines science, art and environmental reflection to make visible what often goes unnoticed and to remind us of the need to preserve both biodiversity and the cultural memory associated with animals.
It is precisely this combination of scientific rigor, artistic creation and the ability to connect natural heritage and contemporary culture that has made Invisible Animals one of the exhibitions selected to compete for the Best Exhibition award at the III Readers’ Awards + History.
An ideal proposal for this summer
The nomination comes in the middle of summer, an excellent time to discover or rediscover the exhibition. Located in the Fòrum venue of the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona, it offers a stimulating and refreshing experience for families, curious people and science lovers, making it an ideal option to escape the heat while exploring one of the most surprising and unknown worlds of nature.
From 27 July, people who want to support the candidacy will be able to participate in the voting for the III Lectores +Historia Awards through the National Geographic History website.