Abstract: A system for virtual reality/mixed reality viewing of a surgical procedure includes an endoscope having an elongated flexible or rigid main body with a proximal end and a distal end. A spherical element is coupled to the distal end. A plurality of wide field-of-view cameras or optical collections lenses are aligned about the spherical element to provide 360 degree omnidirectional stereoscopic visualization. A fiber optic illumination strip is positioned around the periphery of the spherical element adjacent each camera. A central processing unit is in communication with the plurality of cameras/lenses configured to receive real-time video from each of the plurality of cameras or lenses. A partial field-of-view virtual reality headset or a mixed reality headset is electronically coupled to the central processing unit. The headset displays real-time video from a select portion of the plurality of cameras or lenses, which provides 360 degree omnidirectional visualization based upon a position of the headset.