Cover From sleek new galleries to reimagined historic spaces, 2026 invites travellers to wander, linger and discover art in these must-visit museums opening this year (Photo: MoN Takanawa)
From sleek new galleries to reimagined historic spaces, 2026 invites travellers to wander, linger and discover art in these must-visit museums opening this year (Photo: MoN Takanawa)
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2026’s must-visit museums showcase design, art and history, making every visit a cultural adventure
It's shaping up to be a year for museum lovers, with a wave of openings offering fresh ways to explore art, design and history around the world. From Abu Dhabi’s waterfront galleries to intimate Japanese craft spaces, these new must-visit museums invite visitors to linger, discover and experience local culture in thoughtfully designed settings. Whether it’s repurposed industrial buildings in Suzhou, interactive design studios in Tokyo or immersive narrative galleries in Los Angeles, museums are no longer just places to view collections—they’re urban hubs where architecture, public space and storytelling meet. With expanded galleries, rooftop gardens and interactive zones, this year’s openings promise memorable trips for both seasoned travellers and curious first-time visitors.
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V&A East Museum, London, England
V&A East opens in 2026 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in a 14,000-square-metre former printing works redesigned by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Positioned as one of London’s must-visit museums, the new outpost expands V&A’s design holdings with a focus on theatre, fashion and digital culture. Rotating exhibitions draw from 1.7 million objects, while a visible conservation studio engages passers-by, turning the museum into a living workshop as well as a gallery.
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Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens in late 2026 on Saadiyat Island, designed by Frank Gehry as a cluster of 55 marble-domed pavilions evoking traditional wind towers. The 32,000-square-metre museum will focus on modern and contemporary art from the Middle East, Asia and beyond, drawing from the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation’s holdings. Shaded courtyards and a waterfront promenade connect to sister institutions like the Louvre Abu Dhabi, making it a cultural destination as much as a gallery.
Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, Suzhou, China
Spring 2026 will see the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art open in the city’s historic core. Local firm Atelier Deshaus has repurposed a former textile mill into a 20,000-square-metre space, blending industrial heritage with contemporary design. The museum highlights Chinese and international contemporary works, with rotating exhibitions on urban transformation and digital media. A rooftop garden overlooks Suzhou’s classical gardens, creating a quiet outdoor space for reflection.
The Obama Presidential Centre, Chicago, USA
Opening in summer 2026 on Chicago’s South Side, the Obama Presidential Centre occupies a 6,000-square-metre tower within a 19-acre park. Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, it houses presidential archives, artefacts and oral histories. Outdoor elements include walking paths along Lake Michigan and a sledging hill in winter, reflecting the city’s seasonal lifestyle. Programmes emphasise civic engagement and youth leadership, encouraging visitors to explore history in an active, participatory way.
MoN Takanawa, Tokyo, Japan
MoN Takanawa opens mid-2026 in Tokyo’s Nakano district, a compact 5,000-square-metre space by Kengo Kuma dedicated to modern Japanese design and craft. Set to join the city’s list of must-visit museums, it focuses on postwar furniture, ceramics and textiles alongside experimental installations that highlight the evolution of Japanese making. Interiors of natural timber evoke traditional tea houses, while interactive zones invite guests to try their hand at craft processes, making the experience both educational and immersive. A tightly curated programme of exhibitions and workshops reinforces its role as a thoughtful counterpoint to Tokyo’s larger institutional museums.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Los Angeles, USA
Early 2026 brings the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Ma Yansong’s 25,000-square-metre building resembles a hovering spaceship, housing George Lucas’s collection of over 36,000 works across animation, comics and digital media. Exhibitions focus on storytelling across cultures, while a public plaza connects the museum to neighbouring institutions, offering spaces to gather, linger and enjoy Los Angeles’s sun.
New Museum, New York, USA
The New Museum’s Bowery expansion opens in autumn 2026, doubling gallery space to 30,000 square metres with a design by SANAA. The focus is on emerging global artists, with biennials and site-specific commissions. Ground-level public forums host performances and talks, blending exhibitions with cultural programming.
David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, Los Angeles, USA
April 2026 marks the opening of the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA. Peter Zumthor’s 347,000-square-metre glass-and-concrete structure replaces four older buildings, reuniting LACMA’s encyclopedic collection of 150,000 works from antiquity to the present. Sunken gardens and entry pavilions frame the facade, while flexible gallery spaces accommodate large-scale installations, making it a modern hub for Los Angeles’s art community.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
