The connection between happiness and the human body is far more than a metaphor—and a landmark exhibition arriving in Southern California this winter aims to prove it with preserved real human specimens, interactive displays, and decades of scientific insight. BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness, opening December 22, 2026 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, invites visitors to confront the tangible, physical traces that emotions, lifestyle choices, and daily habits leave on our organs, bones, and tissues.
Created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens, the inventor of Plastination, and curated by physician and designer Dr. Angelina Whalley, this iteration of the globally renowned exhibition poses a central question: What does happiness have to do with the body? Unlike anatomical models or digital recreations, the show uses real human specimens preserved through Plastination—a process that replaces bodily fluids and soluble fats with reactive plastics—to reveal that happiness is not simply a fleeting emotion or a matter of positive thinking. Instead, the exhibition argues, it is deeply connected to the way we live, move, breathe, feel, recover, and relate to others. Tickets are now on sale; more information is available at www.bodyworlds.com.
The exhibition explores the science behind that mind-body connection from multiple angles, including stress, resilience, social connection, movement, aging, brain health, and the effects of everyday lifestyle choices. Visitors will encounter whole-body plastinates alongside individual organs, body slices, and multimedia displays that illustrate how the human body changes through health, disease, age, and lifestyle. Highlights include striking whole-body plastinates such as The Archer and a duo of Soccer Players, which illustrate the remarkable complexity of the human body in motion and explore the link between physical activity, everyday experiences, and happiness. Side-by-side displays of healthy and diseased organs reveal the profound impact of lifestyle choices and disease on the body while underscoring the importance of physical and emotional well-being.
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Additional features of the exhibition include:
- Interactive elements, including the Anatomical Mirror, where visitors can visualize the position of vital organs within their own body.
- A documentary photo series on centenarians, exploring longevity and healthy aging.
- The Save Your Spine display, offering practical ergonomic advice for everyday movement.
- Insights into brain health, including conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, explored through plastinates, brain scans, and multimedia presentations.
“Through plastination, we are able to present the human body in a memorable and beautiful way, allowing people to learn about anatomy, disease and health in a direct and deeply personal manner,” said Dr. Angelina Whalley, curator of BODY WORLDS. “With The Anatomy of Happiness, I want to show that our body is not only the basis of life, but also the place where our experiences, emotions, and choices leave their traces. Many visitors leave BODY WORLDS with a new awareness of their own body and a new motivation to live more consciously.”
“We’re incredibly excited to bring BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness to San Diego. We want visitors to leave not only amazed by what they have seen, but thinking differently about their own health, well-being and the choices they make every day,” said Sorina Burlacu, the exhibition’s producer.
The numbers behind the phenomenon are staggering: more than 58 million people have visited BODY WORLDS exhibitions in more than 175 cities worldwide since the first exhibition opened in Japan in 1995. All specimens on display were donated by individuals who chose to give their bodies for scientific and educational purposes after death. Official BODY WORLDS exhibitions are the only anatomical exhibitions of their kind to rely on an established body donation program. To date, more than 24,000 people worldwide have registered to donate their bodies to Dr. von Hagens’ Institute for Plastination after death.
Event details:
Del Mar Fairgrounds Activity Center
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, CA 92014
Ticket prices range from $29-$35, with discounts available for seniors, students, groups and families, youth, and military.
Exhibition hours:
Monday-Thursday: 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
BODY WORLDS was created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens and Dr. Angelina Whalley to make human anatomy accessible to the general public. For tickets and additional information, visit www.bodyworlds.com.
Why it matters: This exhibition reframes happiness not as abstract psychology but as a measurable, physical condition etched into our bodies—visible through real human specimens preserved for education. As millions have already experienced in cities around the globe, confronting that reality can fundamentally shift how people approach their own health, aging, and daily choices.
John Tellem
Tellem Grody PR
