Banijay Americas opened LuminiScience, an award-winning immersive experience, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Created by Lotchi and produced by Banijay Live, part of Banijay Entertainment, LuminiScience combines 360-degree video mapping, storytelling, live choir and the LuminiScience Orchestra led by Maestro Malcolm J. Merriweather, to tell the story of one of the world’s most recognized landmarks. New York native Jonathan Roumie narrates.
A portion of every ticket sold supports “Renew the Living Voices: The Kilgen Organ Campaign,” helping preserve the Cathedral’s musical legacy for generations to come.
“St. Patrick’s Cathedral has held a special place in New York City for more than 160 years, and we’re honored to bring its story to life through music and light, and storytelling,” said Ben Samek, CEO of Banijay Americas. “Each glowing arch celebrates the hands that shaped it and the city that grew around it. Our hope is that everyone who experiences Luminiscence feels part of a story that has been unfolding for generations.”
Since launching in 2023, LuminiScience has welcomed more than two million visitors to more than 20 productions in eight countries: France, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Brazil and the United States. The New York engagement is part of Banijay Americas’ growing international footprint. The company is bringing music, storytelling and digital artistry to some of the world’s most remarkable sacred and historic spaces.
“We are eager to welcome guests to LuminiScience to experience the ways technology and art can come together to illuminate the beauty, history and faith that has filled St. Patrick’s for generations. We hope that all who attend, regardless of their faith, allow them to encounter the Cathedral in a new and meaningful way”, said Fr. Enrique Salvo, rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
“St. Patrick’s isn’t just a spectacular venue. It’s a place where generations of New Yorkers have gathered to celebrate and to hope,” said Romain Sarfati, co-founder of Lotchi and creator of LuminiScience. “Every element of our show, from the choir and orchestra to projections mapped to the millimeter, is designed with that weight in mind. We’re not adding light to St. Patrick’s. We’re helping it reveal what’s already there.”
St. Patrick’s is the largest Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in North America. It was the vision of Archbishop John Hughes, who wanted a cathedral worthy of New York’s growing Catholic community. Critics dismissed the then-remote uptown site as “Hughes’ Folly.” The Civil War delayed construction, and the white-marble cathedral designed by James Renwick Jr. took two decades to complete, opening in 1878. Its twin spires, which rise more than 330 feet above Fifth Avenue, were added in 1888. Consecrated in 1910, St. Patrick’s is the seat of the Archdiocese of New York, a designated New York City landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has welcomed popes, presidents and millions of visitors each year.
LuminiScience opened to the public on October 2, 2026, with performances on select dates through mid November with the possibility of extending into 2027. Guests can choose LuminiScience Live+, which features a live choir and orchestra, or LuminiScience, which uses recorded music and narration. Ticket prices vary by experience. Tickets and information are atluminiscence.com/new-york.
