A wave of long-anticipated museum openings is set to reshape the cultural landscape in 2025. Delays due to regulations, funding challenges, or unexpected discoveries have only heightened anticipation for these ambitious renovations, bold expansions, and entirely new institutions. Some are preserving tradition, while others are pushing boundaries. From New York to Kazakhstan, here are five standout projects you won’t want to miss.

The Frick Collection, New York

After an extensive renovation by Selldorf Architects, The Frick Collection will finally reopen on 17 April 2025. Then, in June, its first-floor galleries will debut with Vermeer’s Love Letters, an exhibition bringing together Mistress and Maid, Love Letter (on loan from the Rijksmuseum), and Woman Writing a Letter (from the National Gallery of Ireland) for the first time in a single space. A masterclass in quiet intimacy, this exhibition highlights Vermeer’s fascination with domestic life and the inner worlds of his female subjects.

New Museum, New York

The New Museum is making a bold return in early 2025 with a striking expansion designed by OMA architects Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas. The new seven-story, 60,000-square-foot addition will dramatically increase exhibition space while introducing dedicated areas for artist residencies, public programmes, and a permanent home for NEW INC, the museum’s cultural incubator. While the first exhibitions remain under wraps, the buzz around the expansion is already building—we can’t wait to see how it transforms the museum’s presence in the city.

Studio Museum in Harlem, New York

Across Manhattan, the Studio Museum in Harlem is preparing to unveil its first purpose-built home since its founding 56 years ago. Designed by David Adjaye, the striking new building—featuring dark grey concrete and expansive glass panels—will provide state-of-the-art exhibition, education, and programme spaces, as well as public amenities the museum has never had before. For its grand opening this autumn, the museum will honour its roots with a survey of sculptor and installation artist Tom Lloyd, whose light-based works also appeared in its very first exhibition.

Almaty Museum of Arts, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s cultural landscape will take a major step forward this autumn with the arrival of the Almaty Museum of Arts. Positioned as a key platform for Central Asian art, the museum will feature a bold programme of exhibitions, commissions, and publications, while also introducing international artists to local audiences. Its highly anticipated inaugural exhibition, curated by Inga Lāce, will explore themes of hospitality and migration across Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and neighbouring regions, making for a thought-provoking debut.

V&A East Storehouse, London

London’s V&A is expanding eastward with the opening of East Storehouse on 31 May. This enormous space will house over half a million objects spanning art, design, fashion, and performance, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s vast holdings. Adding to the excitement, it will also be home to the David Bowie Centre, an unprecedented archive dedicated to the legendary artist, featuring more than 80,000 items from his six-decade career. Bowie fans, mark your calendars—this will be a must-visit.