What’s New in Aurora: October 2026

Release 2026.8

Aurora 2026.8 introduces support for 3D objects and expands the Aurora Ingest beta, alongside improvements to media playback, repository administration, and search functionality.

Explore 3D Objects in Aurora

Aurora now supports 3D objects, giving institutions another way to share their digital collections online.

The new 3D Object model allows visitors to rotate and explore objects in an interactive viewer, examining collection materials from different angles rather than relying on static images alone.

The viewer supports GLB, GLTF, and OBJ file formats, with GLB recommended. 3D objects can be added individually through Aurora's legacy admin interface. Support for batch ingest and the new Aurora Ingest interface is planned for future releases.

More in the Aurora Ingest beta

We're continuing to build on the Aurora Ingest beta introduced in release 2026.6, with with updates that streamline content ingest workflows and allow more members of a repository team to contribute.

The ingest form now mirrors the standard Repository Item edit form, giving staff a familiar set of metadata fields when creating new objects and reducing differences between the workflows for adding and editing content.

Users with the Intern role, introduced in release 2026.7, can now add content through Aurora Ingest. Their existing permissions still apply, including restrictions on deleting objects. This allows institutions to involve students, volunteers, and other contributors in content ingest without granting them full administrative access.

The ingest form also includes a new Play service file toggle, enabled by default, allowing staff to choose whether newly added audio and video objects play their compressed service files or original files.

Faster Loading for Books and Newspapers

We've updated Mirador, the viewer used for books, newspapers, and other multi-page objects in Aurora.

Large items now load noticeably faster, helping researchers and other visitors navigate lengthy digitized materials with less waiting. The update also includes a refreshed interface with cleaner edges and updated toolbar controls.

Improved Audio and Video Playback

New audio and video objects now play their compressed, web-friendly service files by default. This helps media start faster and play more smoothly for visitors, while giving repository teams one less setting to manage when adding audiovisual content.

Administrators can still choose to play an original file by turning off the “Play service file” setting for an individual object. Existing audio and video objects are unaffected and will retain their current settings.

Additional Updates and Fixes

• Aurora Admin role: The Cloud Admin role has been renamed Aurora Admin to better reflect its purpose. This is a name change only, with no changes to existing permissions or access.
• Search improvements: Exact-phrase searches using quotation marks now return matching results as expected, including phrases containing consecutive common words.
• Other fixes: Various minor bug fixes and behind-the-scenes improvements have also been deployed in this release.

Learn more about Aurora

If you'd like to learn more about Aurora, schedule a demo, or discuss how the platform could support your institution's digital collections, contact Discovery Garden.

Image Source
Johann Zahn, Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus Sive Telescopium (1685). Via The Public Domain Review.