Dino Month transforms Abu Dhabi museum into prehistoric discovery hub this June
Interactive workshops bring extinction theories and fossil science to life
ABU DHABI – The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is dedicating the entire month of June 2026 to Dino Month, a city-wide themed programme inspired by the Age of Dinosaurs and the prehistoric ecosystems that once shaped Earth.
The initiative brings together science-led workshops, family-focused discovery sessions, creative learning activities and wellness experiences across multiple galleries and museum spaces. Designed for visitors of all ages, the programme presents dinosaurs not only as prehistoric icons but also as a lens through which to explore evolution, extinction and the wider natural world.
Across the month, the museum is transforming its spaces into interactive learning environments where fossils, scientific theory and hands-on activities merge. From investigating extinction events to exploring bird evolution and engaging in mindfulness beneath towering dinosaur installations, the programme blends education with immersive experiences.
Fossil science
One of the key attractions is Dinosaur Detectives: What Killed the Dinosaurs?, where visitors step into the role of palaeontology investigators. Running from 26 to 30 June at 11am, 2pm and 5pm in the Paleo Lab, the workshop guides participants through scientific evidence linked to the extinction event 66 million years ago.
Also taking place from 26 to 30 June, Surviving the Darkness focuses on the catastrophic asteroid impact linked to the K-Pg mass extinction event. Hosted in the Evolving World Gallery at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm, the sessions challenge participants to understand how ecosystems collapsed and how life adapted in extreme environmental conditions.
The Survive Like a Dinosaur Card Game, running from 5 to 30 June, introduces visitors to adaptation science through interactive gameplay. Sessions are scheduled at 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm and 5:30pm, encouraging participants to match survival traits with environmental challenges faced by prehistoric species.
Another highlight, Scales to Feathers, explores the evolutionary connection between dinosaurs and modern birds. Held from 26 to 30 June at 10:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm and 5:30pm in the Evolving World Gallery, the workshop compares fossils such as Archaeopteryx and Pterosaur specimens to demonstrate transitional evolution.
Visitors can also attend What’s in a Name?, hosted in the Museum Gallery Corridor from 26 to 30 June at multiple daily sessions. The workshop explains how scientists classify and name specimens, ranging from fossils to meteorites, highlighting the structure behind scientific documentation and taxonomy.
Family discovery
As part of the UAE’s Year of the Family, Nature’s Families: Bird Edition Game offers a collaborative experience for families throughout weekends in June. Held in the Our World Today Gallery, sessions run at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm, where participants use character cards featuring bird species from the museum collection to identify biological relationships across exhibits.
The activity encourages shared exploration as families move through galleries, connecting scientific learning with teamwork and observation. Registration takes place at the ticketing desk, allowing visitors to join structured discovery sessions that highlight the diversity of birdlife in the region.
Wellness & art
Alongside scientific programming, the museum is also hosting a series of wellness and creative workshops throughout June. The Nature and Mind series begins on 8 June with a ladies-only guided yoga session in the Theatre, followed by a second yoga session on 16 June beneath the museum’s sauropod displays in the Atrium.
On 21 June, the Morning of Wellness marks International Yoga Day with guided yoga and sound meditation in the same Atrium setting. The month concludes its wellness line-up on 29 June with Under the Strawberry Moon: A Sound Healing Experience, combining immersive soundscapes and reflective practice inspired by Earth’s ancient rhythms.
Creative workshops include Constellation Light Lab, where children design constellation viewers using light and paper materials, and Sun Printing, which explores photogram techniques using sunlight and natural objects. Build a Mini Exhibit allows participants to take on the role of curator by selecting specimen replicas and designing their own display concepts, learning how museums construct narratives through classification and storytelling.
The museum operates Monday to Thursday from 10am to 6:30pm, and Friday to Sunday from 10am to 8:30pm, with all Dino Month activities scheduled across galleries and dedicated learning spaces throughout June. Visitors can access full programme details and updates via the official website and the museum’s official social media channels.