Blenheim Palace has teamed up with Future Fossils to present Dinosaurs Are Forever, a world-class exhibition from 11th August to 1st November 2026, showcasing full-scale dinosaur sculptures created by artist Jay Jay Burridge.
Five reimagined Megalosaurus skeletons will be located in the grounds of the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site in Oxfordshire, the birthplace of dinosaurs.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the entirely unique exhibition, the first of its kind at Britain’s Greatest Palace, which celebrates the local discovery of the first ever named dinosaur, Megalosaurus, through an outdoor sculptural experience that combines cutting-edge materials and technology with the traditions of hand-crafted sculpture.
Two centuries ago, just outside Blenheim Palace in the village of Stonesfield, the very first named dinosaur, Megalosaurus, was discovered and eighteen years later, in 1824, Megalosaurus was grouped with Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus and collectively named ‘Dinosaurs’ as we know them today. By 1852, the fascination with dinosaurs swept the globe.
The fossil remains of Megalosaurus are now on display at the Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford.
Fabricated by a network of artisans and advanced manufacturing specialists, using the same tools, materials and processes found in high-performance motorsport, engineering and aerospace, the sculptures in the exhibition, in partnership with the Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, will bring together decades of artistic exploration centred on dinosaurs, storytelling and immersive art.
Jay Jay Burridge is a British artist, designer, author and former BBC presenter. He first gained recognition for large-scale toy-inspired sculptures before being recruited by the BBC to write and present the acclaimed children’s art programme SMart. His career has since taken him across art, fashion, design and publishing, including a collaboration with Jamie Oliver, a Beverly Hills solo exhibition with Lazarides Gallery, and the internationally published six-book adventure series The World of Supersaurs.
Heather Carter, visitor attraction managing director at Blenheim Palace, said: “We are so excited to bring our visitors a brand new experience this summer, and it’s a real first for Blenheim Palace. It’s a subject that appeals to all ages and interests, and not many people know about the first ever named dinosaur being discovered here. Dinosaurs are Forever shines a light on the fascinating discovery of these prehistoric creatures right on our doorstep.
“Jay Jay is massively talented; the scale and vibrancy of these sculptures are going to really stand out against the backdrop of Blenheim Palace, so this outdoor exhibition is one not to be missed.”
Jay Jay Burridge commented: “Until now, these dinosaurs existed only in my imagination. These sculptures connect the birthplace of dinosaurs with the technologies shaping our future. If Megalosaurus began our understanding of ancient life, the sculptures imagine where the modern world might go next. This project takes the first dinosaur and rebuilds it through the lens of modern engineering, asking not what dinosaurs were, but what they could become.”
Admission to the Dinosaurs Are Forever exhibition will be free with any valid Blenheim Palace ticket, including Park & Gardens Day Ticket, Palace, Park & Gardens Pass, and the Palace & Play Annual Pass.
To find out more and to book tickets, visit:
www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/dinosaurs-are-forever.html
