Signed by great names in world architecture, museums and bridges are among the new projects.
Submitted at Jan 14, 2026, 11:35 AM
As construções mais aguardadas de 2026 (divulgação/CASACOR)
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, em Los Angeles, projetado por MAD Architects. (divulgação/CASACOR)
A building shaped like a spaceship is about to land in the west area of Exposition Park, in Los Angeles. It is the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, commissioned by George Lucas, creator of the Star Wars saga, to the office MAD Architects. Surrounded by gardens, the project is scheduled to open in September 2026 after six years of construction. The space will provide the city with over 9,000 square meters of exhibition area spread over five floors. The themes include all forms of visual narrative, including comic strips like Snoopy by Charles M. Schulz and Flash Gordon by Alex Raymond, as well as cinematic concept art by Neal Adams for Batman and Ralph McQuarrie for Star Wars.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, por Frank Gehry (divulgação/CASACOR)
With recent heavyweight architectural projects—such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi created by Jean Nouvel and the Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners—Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi is considered one of the most ambitious cultural districts in the world. In 2026, after nearly 20 years, the project by Frank O. Gehry (1929-2025) for a new Guggenheim is expected to be completed. Additionally, it will be the largest Guggenheim in the world, with 30,000 square meters of exhibition, education, and research spaces.
A conclusão da Sagrada Família de Antoni Gaudí. (Enric Cruz López/CASACOR)
After 145 years of construction, the unfinished masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí is finally expected to be completed in 2026. This year marks the centenary of the Torre de Barnabé—the first of 18 towers designed by the Catalan architect and the only one he saw completed. Under the command of Spanish architect Jordi Faulí, the final tower, at 172.5 meters tall, will also be completed, marking the end of a project that many believed would never be finished. Along with the Casa Batlló, another Gaudí building that was just restored, in 2026 it will finally be possible to visit the Sagrada Família free of cranes and scaffolding – something no one has ever seen.
Ópera de Xangai, por Snøhetta. (divulgação/CASACOR)
The Norwegian studio Snøhetta signs another cultural project among many incredible works already featured in the firm's portfolio. The Shanghai Opera was created in partnership with the local company ECADI, and its main element is a spiral-shaped roof that opens like a traditional Chinese fan. At the same time, it functions as a staircase, connecting the ground floor to the top of the building and inviting the public to experience the architecture and enjoy views of the city and the Huangpu River. Under this structure, there are three auditoriums and supporting facilities, all integrated, similar to the Oslo Opera, which is now an urban landmark.
Arena Milano, por David Chipperfield Architects. (divulgação/CASACOR)
Designed by David Chipperfield Architects and intended to host the Winter Olympics in early 2026, the Arena Milano is located in Santa Giulia, an urban revitalization area in Milan. With a capacity of 16,000 people, the space will host major concerts, sports events, and festivals. When not being occupied by events, the arena will be open to the public as an opportunity for social interaction. The elliptical shape resembles a Roman amphitheater and a wide staircase leads to an elevated platform that covers nearly the entire space. There, a large square with over 10,000 square meters offers a space for outdoor events.
Ponte Danjiang, por Zaha Hadid Architects. (divulgação/CASACOR)
With a project by Zaha Hadid Architects and under construction since 2019, the Danjiang Bridge, in Taipei, Taiwan, will be the longest asymmetrical single-pillar cable-stayed bridge in the world when it opens. With a section of 450 meters, it features a Y-shaped structure near the shore, supported by concrete columns. Asymmetrical cables that come from a single 200-meter tall pillar are resistant to extreme weather conditions and earthquakes. With the final installation of the metal structure completed, fully connecting both banks of the Tamsui River, the inauguration date has been set for May 12, 2026.
Residências King Toronto, por BIG. (divulgação/CASACOR)
Inspired by the iconic Habitat 67 by Moshe Safdie in Montreal, the King Toronto Residences, designed by the BIG office, is one of the most awaited residential and mixed-use projects of 2026. Surrounding a central courtyard, the structure consists of stacked concrete cubes that envelop several historical buildings. The facade of the building is made of a special glass brick with a mirrored surface. The architects of BIG preserved the historical facades of these structures while modifying the interiors to accommodate new programs.
Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, por BIG (divulgação/CASACOR)
On the shores of Jinji Lake in Suzhou, China, the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art is a project also signed by BIG in collaboration with ARTS Group and Front Inc. Scheduled for delivery in 2026, this museum of 60,000 square meters comprises a set of 12 pavilions under a continuous roof, inspired by the eaves of roofs present in traditional Chinese architecture. Interconnected by glassed galleries, the individual pavilions form a weave of sculptural courtyards and exhibition spaces. Each pavilion, clad in wavy and curved glass and stainless steel, reflects the sky, water, and surrounding gardens.
Winter Olympic Village, por SOM. (divulgação/CASACOR)
For a few weeks in February, this space in southeastern Milan will host thousands of athletes participating in the Winter Olympics of 2026. But an important question regarding Olympic villages is what happens after the event. In Milan, the office Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) designed an Olympic Village that can be converted into affordable student housing with 1,700 beds. Fortunately, many of the facilities for athletes—spaces for socializing, recreation, and physical exercises—are also ideal for students. The project also presented an opportunity for urban revitalization. In addition to designing six new buildings, the architects restored two historical structures.
V&A East Museum, por O'Donnell & Tuomey. (divulgação/CASACOR)
The recent V&A East Storehouse—designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and combining archives, warehouses, and exhibition spaces—is just the first of the new buildings commissioned by the museum in the area of the London Olympic Park. Soon, the V&A East Museum, designed by the Irish studio O'Donnell & Tuomey. The building will host temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection entitled Why We Make. Inspired by the work of Cristóbal Balenciaga, the building was designed in collaboration with the V&A after the major exhibition dedicated to him in 2017. The exterior resembles a pleated dress, giving the structure a sculptural identity. The inauguration date has already been set: it will be on April 18, 2026.
