A wave of exciting museum openings and revitalizations is set to transform the cultural landscape in 2025. From the world’s first AI-driven museum to breathtaking architectural marvels, these 15 highlights offer fresh discoveries and immersive experiences guaranteed to captivate audiences worldwide.
1. Goodwood Art Foundation, Goodwood Estate (Sussex, UK)
The works of leading international artists will be showcased at the Goodwood Art Foundation starting in May, set against a meticulously crafted backdrop by star landscape architect Dan Pearson OBE.
2. New Museum (New York, NY)
The exhibition space, designed with a futuristic structure by SANAA, will reopen in 2025 with the addition of a sculpture by OMA, elevating contemporary art in Lower East Side.
3. Studio Museum in Harlem (New York, NY)
The Studio Museum will debut its new, asymmetrical building designed by Adjaye Associates in September. Featuring large glass panels and dark grey concrete, the structure expands the museum’s exhibition schedule and educational offerings. Its inaugural exhibition will highlight the work of sculptor Tom Lloyd.
4. Frick Collection (New York, NY)
The Frick’s renovated exhibition space will reopen to showcase the Art Research Library and Reading Room and a new gallery on the second floor.
5. Yale Center for British Art (New Haven, CT)
The museum will reopen in March with a reinstallation of its British art collection, featuring exhibits like Tracey Emin: I Loved You Until the Morning and J.M.W. Turner: Romance and Reality. Additionally, the Met’s Michael C. Rockefeller Wing will reopen in May after four years of renovation.
6. DATALAND (Los Angeles, CA)
DATALAND is being advertised to be the world’s first museum dedicated to the arts of AI and the digital ecosystem dedicated to data visualization and AI-based creativity. The Frank Gehry-designed facility is to be unveiled soon.
7. Fenix (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Fenix in Rotterdam’s port area will focus on migration’s global impact, showcasing art and historical artifacts that honor the city’s history and culture.
8. National Museum of Photography (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
More than 6.5 million photographs will have a new, state-of-the-art home, including display, conservation, collection, and study of photography. Large exhibition areas, a library and bookshop for photography, a café, a darkroom, and a rooftop restaurant are all part of the museum’s new location.
9. São Paulo Museum of Art (São Paulo, Brazil)
The São Paulo Museum of Art has a new 14-story building next to its current gallery. The two spaces are linked by an underground tunnel, offering visitors a unique experience of the museum’s structure.
10. Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain (Paris, France)
In 2025, the Fondation Cartier will unveil a transformed space, previously the Louvre des Antiquaires, now relocated on rue de Rivoli. Redesigned by Jean Nouvel, the expanded exhibition areas feature a striking glass ceiling, offering a modern museum experience.
11. Palais de la Découverte (Paris, France)
Palais de la Découverte reopens with an interactive blend of science and modern art, featuring refreshed designs by François Chatillon. The new program includes an equatorial garden, astronomical observatory, light room, hydrogen area, and more, offering visitors a dynamic scientific experience.
12. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the museum features an impressive hollow cylindrical shape and is set to become the largest of its kind. With a focus on modern and contemporary art, its striking architecture harmonizes with its artistic vision.
13. Zayed National Museum (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
The museum will showcase the history of the United Arab Emirates through innovative displays across one temporary and six permanent galleries. Designed by Foster + Partners, the skyscraper structure will serve as a striking landmark, offering a prominent cultural hub for the Middle Eastern metropolis.
14. Almaty Museum of Arts (Almaty, Kazakhstan)
The Almaty Museum of Arts, Central Asia’s first private art museum, spans 9,000 square meters. It will showcase international artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Fernand Léger, and Anselm Kiefer, alongside local talent like painter Aisha Galimbaeva. The building, designed by British architect Chapman Taylor, features a striking geometric form.
15. Naoshima New Museum of Art (Naoshima, Japan)
Naoshima, a small island in western Japan, is home to a wealth of museums and galleries set in a picturesque natural landscape. The New Museum of Art, designed by Tadao Ando, will join this impressive collection. The ninth building on the island, created by a renowned Japanese architect, will celebrate Asian art.
