Eclipso to open Everest VR experience in New York on Sept. 30

Eclipso will launch Everest: The First Ascent at its New York City venue on Sept. 30, bringing viewers into a 1953 VR recreation of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s climb to the summit of Mount Everest. The 40-minute free-roam experience first previews at Venice Immersive before opening in Manhattan.

Why it matters: - Everest: The First Ascent turns a defining exploration milestone into a free-roam VR experience. - The project aims to place visitors inside the physical and psychological challenge of the 1953 Everest expedition. - Eclipso is expanding its lineup of historical and educational immersive experiences with a new title tied to mountaineering history.

What happened: - Eclipso announced Everest: The First Ascent will open at Eclipso NYC on Sept. 30, 2026. - The experience recreates the 1953 expedition that made Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay the first people confirmed to reach the summit of Mount Everest. - The experience will first preview at Venice Immersive during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, which runs Sept. 2-12. - The project was created by Jean Dallac and Benjamin Auriche.

The details: - Visitors use cutting-edge free-roam virtual reality and can move through the story as it unfolds around them. - The journey covers Kathmandu, Sherpa culture, high-altitude camps, glaciers and the final summit push. - The experience runs 40 minutes. - Tickets are on sale now. - The minimum age is 8. - The New York venue is at 555 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019. - Opening hours are Monday closed, Tuesday-Friday 12 p.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. - Eclipso says the experience was developed with guidance from a scientific advisory board of Himalayan, mountaineering and cultural specialists. - Eclipso’s broader catalog includes Titanic: Echoes From The Past and Colosseum: The Legendary Arena.

Between the lines: - The Venice Immersive selection signals industry recognition for the project’s format and execution. - The focus on Sherpa culture and expedition conditions suggests Eclipso is positioning the experience as both entertainment and historical interpretation. - The 35-minute creative framing referenced by the project’s creator and the 40-minute venue duration point to a tightly packaged visitor experience.

What’s next: - Everest: The First Ascent will continue its Venice preview ahead of the New York launch. - Eclipso NYC will begin showing the experience to the public on Sept. 30. - More visitors will be able to book timed entry through the venue’s ticketing channels.

The bottom line: - Eclipso is using immersive VR to make one of history’s most famous climbs feel immediate, physical and personal for New York audiences.