7 most anticipated museum openings of 2026

In 2026, a series of museums that have been awaited for years (or even decades!) will finally open their doors to welcome the public. Among them, seven projects stand out for their breathtaking architecture, presenting disruptive and innovative proposals that anticipate what visitors will find inside.

The indications include museums of modern and contemporary art as well as more alternative options like digital art and pop culture. They are spread across different countries – including Brazil! Check out the complete list of the most anticipated museum openings of 2026 below:

1. Museum of Image and Sound (MIS) – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

After 14 years of advancements and pauses, the new MIS RJ building finally has a projected completion date: March 2026. Located in Copacabana, the building aims to enhance the cultural presence of the neighborhood and become a meeting point for residents and visitors. The opening is expected to happen in stages, starting with a soft opening, when a temporary exhibition will introduce the space to the public, while the full inauguration is expected in the second semester of the year.

The project is signed by the New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, in partnership with Índio da Costa Arquitetura, and was designed to directly engage with the landscape of the waterfront. The facade, inspired by the design of the Copacabana boardwalk, uses aluminum tubes to control the entry of natural light and ensure views of the beach. There will be eight floors dedicated to exhibitions, in addition to a café, themed spaces, and research areas. The focus of the museum will be on Brazilian audiovisual, gathering content related to music, radio, television, and cinema.

2. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi – Saadiyat Island, United Arab Emirates

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi marks the last major project by Frank Gehry, who passed away in December 2025. Initiated in 2011, the construction went through a long period of interruption and resumed only in 2019. With 42,000 m², the museum will be the largest among the four Guggenheim units in the world and plays a strategic role in consolidating Abu Dhabi as a international cultural hub.

Located on Saadiyat Island, the museum will be dedicated to modern and contemporary art, with a special focus on Asian and African productions. The architectural design stands out for its sculptural volumes and asymmetrical cones that serve as accesses and outdoor areas, creating wide views of the Arabian Gulf. In addition to exhibitions, the space will host educational programs, artistic commissions, and research areas.

3. Lucas Museum of Narrative Art – Los Angeles, USA

After having its opening postponed, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is now slated to open in September 2026. Designed by George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars saga, and Mellody Hobson, the museum occupies an area of Exposition Park in Los Angeles and was designed by the firm MAD Architects. With striking architecture surrounded by gardens, the building attracts attention for its futuristic design that stands out in the urban landscape.

The space will have about 9,000 m² of exhibition areas distributed across five floors and will gather a permanent collection of over 40,000 works. The proposal is to present different forms of visual narrative, including comics, illustrations, and concept art from cinema, featuring works related to characters and universes that marked pop culture.

4. New Museum – New York, United States

After a period closed for renovations, the New Museum is preparing to reopen to the public in March with a significant expansion of its structure. Founded in 1977, in New York, and exclusively dedicated to contemporary art, the museum underwent a reorganization aimed at addressing longstanding issues such as internal circulation, while also doubling its exhibition area. The expansion is led by the OMA firm and includes a new seven-story annex connected to the original building.

With the expansion, the New Museum adds over 5,500 m² to its program, creating new galleries, spaces for resident artists, a forum, and areas dedicated to the institution's cultural incubator. The reopening will be marked by the exhibition "New Humans: Memories of the Future", which invites reflection on how artists have thought about what it means to be human in a context of constant technological transformation.

5. V&A East – London, England

The Victoria and Albert Museum announced the official opening of the V&A East Museum for April 2026, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in London. Part of the East Bank cultural complex, the new museum is part of the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games. With five floors, the space will bring together art, design, fashion, architecture, and performance.

Designed by the Irish firm O’Donnell + Tuomey, the building features open and accessible architecture. One of the highlights will be the permanent gallery Why We Make (in Portuguese, "Por que criamos"), which will showcase more than 500 objects from the V&A collection. The museum complements the V&A East Storehouse, opened in 2025, and strengthens the movement for decentralization of London’s cultural circuit.

6. Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art – Suzhou, China

On the shores of Jinji Lake, the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art emerges as a new cultural landmark with an opening planned for 2026. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the project occupies an area of 60,000 m² and is organized as a set of twelve pavilions connected by a continuous roof. The solution refers to the eaves of traditional Chinese architecture and establishes a fluid relationship with the landscape, reinforced by views of the lake and the Ferris wheel of Suzhou in the background.

The pavilions are interconnected by glassed galleries and form a sequence of courtyards and exhibition spaces that reinterpret, in a contemporary way, the logic of the city’s historical gardens. The inauguration will be marked by the exhibition Materialism, which offers a journey through the transformations of materials, from stone to recycled ones.

7. UBS Digital Art Museum – Hamburg, Germany

The UBS Digital Art Museum will be the largest space in Europe dedicated exclusively to digital and immersive art. With an opening scheduled for 2026, the museum will occupy 6,500 m² in HafenCity, Hamburg, and will debut with a clear proposal: to expand access to artistic experiences that combine technology, sensoriality, and active participation of the public. The inaugural exhibition teamLab Borderless Hamburg will be the main initial attraction and will occupy the entire building.

Unlike the traditional museum model, the space has been designed to stimulate total immersion, with works that transform based on the movement and presence of visitors. In addition to the exhibition content, the project also undertakes ambitious projects commitments, aiming to become the largest carbon-neutral museum in Europe.