Body Worlds

What Body Worlds does

Body Worlds is a privately-held museum and exhibition operator founded in 1993 by Dr. Gunther von Hagens and Dr. Angelina Whalley and headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany. The company operates permanent exhibition venues in Berlin, Amsterdam, Heidelberg, and Guben, alongside a continuously rotating program of traveling exhibitions that, since 1995, have appeared in more than 170 cities across 42 countries and attracted over 58 million cumulative visitors. Its foundational asset is the proprietary plastination technology invented by the founder, a chemical preservation process that replaces bodily fluids and fats with reactive plastics to produce durable anatomical specimens of humans and animals. A closed body-donation program with more than 22,000 registered donors (operating at capacity) anchors the supply side of the operation, and the dedicated PLASTINARIUM visitor center in Guben provides public visibility into the production process.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: direct-to-consumer ticketing at permanent and traveling exhibitions, B2B rental and licensing of exhibitions to cultural venues and science centers, and the wholesale sale of plastination consumables and equipment through the BIODUR Products subsidiary to more than 400 universities and research institutions globally. Consumer pricing for adult admission is in the €21-23 range, with audio guides at €3.50, family tickets at €59-65, group rates at €12-14 per person, and guided tours priced €39-79 on top of admission. Vertical integration is achieved through four operating subsidiaries: Gubener Plastinate GmbH (specimen production), Arts & Sciences Exhibitions and Publishing GmbH (exhibition distribution), BIODUR Products (chemicals and equipment), and PLASTINARIUM (visitor center/brand showcase). The company employs 101-250 people and is currently navigating a leadership transition at its production subsidiary as Dr. Gunther von Hagens steps back due to Parkinson's disease.

Name

Body Worlds

Legal name

Institut für Plastination e.K

Website

https://bodyworlds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Body Worlds operates permanent and traveling anatomical exhibitions built on proprietary plastination technology, serving consumer visitors through ticketed museums in Germany and the Netherlands and B2B clients via plastination supplies to 400+ universities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anatomical Museum Exhibitions

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (71211)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Fine Art Handling & Transport (HSAKAEAB), Sculpture & Oversized Fragile Item Moving (HSAKAEAG)

Keywords

• Anatomical exhibitions
• Plastination specimens
• Human anatomy education
• Body donation program
• Traveling museum exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Exhibition ticket sales: Body Worlds generates primary revenue from selling admission tickets to its traveling and permanent exhibitions. Tickets are sold online (directly via bodyworlds.com and third-party platforms) and at venue box offices. Pricing varies by location, day of week (weekday vs. weekend/holiday), and ticket type (standard, concessions, family, flex/gift). Revenue is event-based and non-recurring per visit.
2. Flex/Gift tickets: Flexible tickets valid on any day during opening hours, priced at a premium (e.g., €29 in Münster), providing unlimited visit within the exhibition's run period. These serve as a higher-margin ticket tier offering maximum flexibility to the buyer.
3. Guided tours and audio guides: Revenue from supplementary visitor services including guided group tours (e.g., 60-min at €39 in Berlin, 90-min at €79 in Heidelberg) and audio guide rentals (€3.50 per unit). These are add-on purchases on top of base admission.
4. Exhibition rental / B2B hosting: Body Worlds licenses its exhibition to third-party venue hosts globally. Interested parties submit hosting requests via the B2B form on the website. This extends the brand's geographic footprint and generates rental/licensing fees from host institutions.
5. Body donation program: Body Worlds operates a body donation program (koerperspende.de) established in 1982, which serves as the ethical cornerstone of the exhibition's specimen supply. While not a direct revenue stream, the program is essential to the supply chain of plastinates. Currently not accepting new donations, having reached capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Body Worlds operates permanent and traveling anatomical exhibitions featuring real human and animal bodies preserved through plastination — a vacuum-forced impregnation technique invented by founder Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977 that replaces bodily fluids with reactive polymers. The exhibitions are offered in multiple themed variants (Vital, Pulse, Cycle of Life, Anatomy of Happiness, Heart, Rx, Decoded) and are shown across permanent museum venues in Berlin, Amsterdam, Heidelberg, and Guben, plus temporary touring exhibitions in cities worldwide. Body Worlds also licenses its exhibitions to host venues, supplies plastination polymers/equipment to universities via BIODUR Products, and operates a body donation program supplying specimens to its production center in Guben.

Product overview

Body Worlds operates as a portfolio of anatomical exhibition experiences centered on plastination — a preservation technique invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977. The core product is the BODY WORLDS Exhibition series, featuring real human specimens preserved through plastination, available in multiple themed variants (Cycle of Life, Vital, Pulse, Happiness Project, Heart, Rx). Adjacent products include the ANIMAL INSIDE OUT animal anatomy exhibition, the PLASTINARIUM visitor facility in Guben, and the von Hagens Plastination medical teaching product line. Supporting services include audio guides, educational materials for schools, and guided tours. The company also manages a body donation program and operates BIODUR Products for selling plastination supplies to educational institutions. Notable venues include permanent museum locations in Berlin and Heidelberg, plus traveling exhibitions in cities worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ANIMAL INSIDE OUT: A separate exhibition featuring plastinated animal specimens, exploring the anatomy of animals from small creatures to large animals like elephants and giraffes.
• PLASTINARIUM
• von Hagens Plastination – Real Anatomy for Teaching
• BIODUR Products

Products and services

• BODY WORLDS Exhibition (human anatomical exhibition series)
• ANIMAL INSIDE OUT
• BODY WORLDS Decoded
• PLASTINARIUM
• Guided Tours (Medi-Guides)
• Audio Guide Rental
• Exhibition Rental (B2B Hosting Program)
• von Hagens Plastination — Real Anatomy for Teaching
• BIODUR Products

Quantifiable outcome

• 58 million+ visitors worldwide since 1995 across 170+ cities in 42 countries
• +5 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FeverUp (Melbourne)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023FeverUp serves as the third-party ticketing platform and promotional channel for the Body Worlds: Anatomy of Happiness exhibition at The District Docklands, Melbourne. FeverUp handles ticket distribution, marketing referral, and visitor acquisition for the Australian market.
• The Tech Interactive (San Jose)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Body Worlds Decoded is a permanent exhibition at The Tech Interactive museum in San Jose, California. The Tech serves as the host venue and local operator, integrating Body Worlds' plastinated specimens with augmented reality and emerging technology overlays. The Tech provides the physical venue, local ticketing (via ticketing.thetech.org), and PR management. This partnership brings Body Worlds to Silicon Valley audiences with a tech-enhanced experience.
• California Science Center (Los Angeles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe California Science Center hosted the North American premiere of Body Worlds in 2004, marking the exhibition's entry into the US market. The center also commissioned and published an independent ethics review of Body Worlds (2004/2005, updated 2016/2017) conducted by a distinguished committee of theologians, ethicists, academics, and medical luminaries — providing institutional legitimacy for the exhibition.
• SOHO Art Center (Warsaw)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe SOHO Art Center in Warsaw's Praga district hosts the Body Worlds PULSE exhibition (April–August 2026). Serves as the local venue host for the temporary exhibition, managing visitor access and local promotion.
• Institute of Power Systems Automation (Wrocław)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Institute of Power Systems Automation near Centennial Hall in Wrocław hosts the Body Worlds & The Cycle of Life exhibition (until August 11, 2026). Local venue host for the temporary Polish exhibition.
• MCC Halle MünsterlandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCC Halle Münsterland serves as the venue host for the Body Worlds VITAL exhibition (until September 6, 2026). Provides the exhibition hall and local visitor services.
• bigBOX (Kempten)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorbigBOX in Kempten hosts the Body Worlds & The Cycle of Life exhibition opening July 10, 2026.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Geographic Society: National Geographic licenses branded traveling exhibitions (e.g., National Geographic Encounter, Tutankhamun spin-offs) to museums and science centers. Comparable as a touring educational-exhibition licensor that pairs global brand with cultural-institution hosts.
• Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group: Cirque operates globally touring entertainment experiences with strong brand IP, premium ticket pricing, and host-venue partnerships. Comparable in commercial structure (touring live experience with global brand) although category is entertainment rather than educational.
• American Museum of Natural History: AMNH operates large-scale permanent science exhibitions including human-anatomy halls, drawing millions of visitors annually. Comparable as a destination science museum with educational programming and a school-group audience.
• Disney Epcot / Disney Imagineering Exhibitions: Disney operates permanent and traveling themed attractions globally with premium ticket pricing and immersive storytelling. Comparable as a scale incumbent in the family/tourist paid-experience space, although broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Complete Anatomy (3D4Medical / Elsevier): Complete Anatomy offers a digital 3D anatomy platform for medical and educational use, increasingly used as a substitute or complement to physical specimens. Comparable as an anatomy-education product competing for the same student/professional mindshare.
• Speakers of the House / Museum of Illusions: Museum of Illusions is a fast-growing franchised chain of immersive paid-experience exhibitions in tourist locations. Comparable as a touring/franchised specialty paid-exhibition model targeting family/tourist audiences.

Direct peers

• Madame Tussauds: Madame Tussauds operates a global network of wax-figure museums and traveling exhibitions under a celebrity/figure-based model. It is the closest direct peer in terms of branded, multi-city, paid-admission specialty exhibitions.
• Ripley's Believe It or Not!: Ripley's operates permanent and touring oddity/curiosity museums in tourist destinations globally. It shares the model of paid-admission specialty attractions with educational and visual spectacle elements, drawing similar family/tourist audiences.
• Treasures of Tutankhamun / Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh: The blockbuster Tutankhamun touring exhibitions (originally 1970s, revived in 2018–2020s) are a benchmark for traveling museum blockbusters that drive multi-city ticket sales. Same model of internationally licensed, themed, high-ticket-price touring exhibitions.

Regional players

• Deutsches Museum: Deutsches Museum is one of the world's oldest and largest science/technology museums, based in Munich. Comparable as a major German science/heritage museum with permanent exhibitions and educational programming.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/OriginalBodyWorlds
• Facebookfacebook.com/BodyWorldsExhibition
• Instagraminstagram.com/gunthervonhagensbodyworlds
• Xx.com/body_worlds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Body Worlds