AI-Driven XR Applications in Cultural Heritage: A New Era of Interactive Museums

In the evolving landscape of cultural heritage, emerging technologies are playing a pivotal role in transforming how historical and artistic insights are conveyed to the public. The advent of Extended Reality (XR) and the Metaverse has revolutionized the traditional methodologies of heritage interpretation, leveraging dynamic and immersive formats to engage modern audiences. Particularly, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in museums has catalyzed a profound shift; AI capabilities have not only streamlined the identification and organization of artefacts but also enriched the participatory experience through advanced virtual and augmented realities. These technologies enable visitors to traverse time and geography, providing a deep, interactive exploration of cultural epochs and narratives.

This Research Topic aims to illuminate how the convergence of AI, XR, and gamification enriches the interpretation and presentation of cultural heritage. The goal is to collect innovative studies that address the integration of these technologies in creating engaging, educational, and interactive heritage experiences. By combining AI with augmented and mixed realities, researchers and practitioners are discovering novel methods to tell stories and fascinate audiences, thereby enhancing the educational impact and emotional connection with cultural content. Critical examination of digital media’s effect on audience interactions and the utilization of multimodal technologies to engage diverse audiences will further enrich the discourse in this field.

Front. Virtual Real., 24 February 2026 // Sec. Virtual Reality and Human Behaviour

Volume 7 - 2026 | https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2026.1776506

From cryptoart to the metaverse: interactive museum ecosystems and the case of Museu XYZ

Ana Claudia da Cunha // Elisa Granha Lira // Roberto Bartholo // Heitor Caulliraux
Laboratory of Technologies, Dialogues and Sites (LTDS), Production Engineering Program, Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering (COPPE), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

EDITORIAL article

© 2026 Nofal, Hammady and De Marco. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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