4 New Attractions Coming to Columbus in 2026

Prototype: The Experimental Museum
This attraction near downtown arrived in 2025, inviting visitors to experience and evaluate the cutting-edge exhibits within. 

Those looking to branch out from the typical museum experience can now do so in our capital city at Prototype: The Experimental Museum. Roto, a Columbus-based firm that designs exhibits for museums, attractions and aquariums across the United States, opened the destination in 2025. The 30,000-square-foot space located at Scioto Audubon Metropark, just southwest of downtown, takes visitors through interactive experiences that encourages them to push the boundaries of their own imaginations.

The first exhibit visitors encounter at Prototype features intricate lighting elements, using thin LED strips to make it seem as if light particles are drifting through the air and into an hourglass-shaped structure. A hand crank lets visitors control the direction the lights travel along the LED strips, creating the illusion of movement. 

“The experiment is twofold,” says Joseph Wisne, founder and chief creative officer of Roto. “[Determining] how well will the illusion work on the public — meaning how long will they keep turning the crank — and how good can we get at making this effect work in another space.”

Other exhibits include an immersive experience that invites visitors to hug a mannequin, which then analyzes the hug and adjusts the room’s animation to match using lights and music. Another exhibit involves building and racing a 3D digital caterpillar.

The ages 16-and-older museum offers stops throughout where visitors are invited to leave feedback on the various exhibits and experiences. A visit to the museum ends at a bar, where patrons can order cocktails themed around the exhibits. 

“We want people to feel like they didn’t just visit, but they actually came in and got to participate in this large-scale experimental project and walk away with something to remember,” Wisne says, “something that sort of tickles their intellect or emotions.” 540 Maier Place, Columbus 43215, 614/763-5455, prototype.org

This Year at COSI 
The Center of Science and Industry delves into the world of mythical creatures and has new exhibits and upgrades for 2026.   

Over the last few years, COSI’s special exhibits have taken visitors on incredible journeys, from an exploration of King Tutankhamen’s tomb to an interactive glimpse at the Marvel Cinematic Universe to trips that journey to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars. 

Through its ongoing partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, COSI unveiled its most recent special exhibit Feb. 7. “Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids: Mythic Creatures” lets visitors get up close and personal with creatures popularized in series like Harry Potter and Game of  Thrones.

Wrapping up May 25, “The Science Behind Pixar” similarly uses pop culture to teach visitors about the science behind movies such as “Toy Story” and “Ratatouille,”
featuring interactive experiences such as character animation and showcasing the technology behind making animated films.

“We love the hands-on experience,” says Josh Sarver, chief experience officer at COSI. “That’s what COSI is all about — finding hands-on activities that really engage you and really bring the science to life in a tangible way.”

The museum has a slate of new experiences being added to its permanent exhibits as well. A new augmented reality experience called Verse opened in early February and lets visitors explore one of what will ultimately be six interactive, narrative-driven stories. The museum’s motion simulator has also received some upgrades, with the addition of a virtual-reality headset that will give visitors a three-dimensional look at the time of the dinosaurs and what it might be like to live among the great apes of Africa.

COSI has also collaborated with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on two new exhibits. The first is a hallway experience featuring a projection of a dunkleosteus, an ancient fish that lived in the prehistoric oceans that used to cover Ohio millions of years ago. The second is a wetlands area in the Ocean exhibit (opens April 3) that teaches visitors about their own impact on Ohio’s natural environment. 

“Science can’t be static. It can’t be something you just put in a book,” Sarver says. “As we learn things, as we have new technology, we can apply that to a better understanding of the world around us.” 333 W. Broad St., Columbus 43215, 614/228-2674, cosi.org

North Market Milestone
The city’s historic market celebrates its sesquicentennial with an 18,000-square-foot expansion that is part of the new 32-story Merchant Building. 

When North Market opened in 1876, Columbus was home to four public markets that provided residents a place to shop for groceries decades before the first supermarkets opened. And while the neighborhood where North Market is located today is considered part of the city’s downtown, it wasn’t always that way.

“We were the far north side of Columbus,” says North Market executive director and CEO Rick Harrison Wolfe. “People were traveling on foot or horses at the time.”

North Market has gone through a few different iterations over the years. The original building burned down in 1948 and was replaced by a Quonset hut before the current structure was built on an adjacent lot in 1995. Today, it’s the lone survivor of Columbus’ four original public markets and celebrates its sesquicentennial with an 18,000-square-foot expansion that is part of the new 32-story Merchant Building set to open later in 2026. The extra space will allow the market to add more vendors, while the planned hotel and apartments in the tower will bring more life to the area.

“We’re basically going to have our own little city,” Wolfe says. “This is the next iteration of the market.”

In the meantime, the market is still a great place to shop and explore. Visitors can browse specialty cheeses from Black Radish Creamery and buy fresh produce from Mini-Super. They can also slow down and grab a bite of Somali cuisine at Hoyo’s Kitchen or check out the pastries and bread at the new Littleton’s Market Bakery.

“Black Radish is my personal favorite because I love cheese,” Wolfe says of the creamery. “But I’m very proud of all those businesses. They’re mostly owner-operated, so you’re talking to an owner or you’re talking to someone in the family behind the counter.” 59 Spruce St., Columbus 43215, 614/463-9664, northmarket.org

The Loom
Columbus has long been a fashion-focused place thanks to the presence of companies like Limited Brands and Abercrombie & Fitch. The Loom celebrates that fact. 

While education, health care and government remain some of the biggest industries in Columbus, founder of the Columbus Fashion Alliance Yohannan Terrell says that fashion and retail are also in the top five due to companies such as Limited
Brands and Abercrombie & Fitch. 

“This is a cultural pillar in our region that we can invest into and create new pathways for students, new job opportunities for local residents, new opportunities for entrepreneurs and help retailers acquire talent,” he says of the industry.

This spring, Terrell and the Columbus Fashion Alliance are opening the Loom, a 42,000-square-foot former Columbus College of Art & Design building that will house a cafe, design and production labs, photo and styling studios, co-working space and more. 

“You can come to the Loom and tap in lightly by taking a pillow-sewing class, or maybe you’re a student interested in fashion and you come join our Future Fashion program,” Terrell says. 

The Loom’s event space will serve as a place to host fashion shows or talks with designers. The gallery plans to host exhibits from fashion brands, other museums and creative partners in the city. The Loom plans to eventually house a marketplace, where visitors can buy pieces from local designers, while the cafe will offer fashion books to peruse. 

“Fashion is an industry that everybody participates in; everybody gets up and gets dressed in the morning,” Terrell says. “People will travel for experiences around fashion. It can be a huge economic driver for any city that has that as a part of their culture.” 161 N. Grant Ave., Columbus 43215, columbusfashion.org  

For more Ohio travel inspiration, sign up for our Ohio Magazine newsletters.

Ohio Magazine is available in a beautifully designed print issue that is published 7 times a year, along with Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter editions of LongWeekends magazine. Subscribe to Ohio Magazine and stay connected to beauty, adventure and fun across our state.