The Victoria and Albert Museum has confirmed that the long-anticipated V&A East Museum will officially open on 18th April 2026 in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford.
Designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey, and positioned as a hub for creativity and social change, the museum will showcase global art, design, fashion, architecture and performance, reflecting the cultural diversity of east London. Its permanent galleries, “Why We Make”, co-curated with east London youth groups and design studio JA Projects, will feature over 500 objects spanning centuries of creative expression, from Italian Renaissance art and Spitalfields silks to works by contemporary figures such as Yinka Ilori, Bisila Noha and VIN + OMI.
The museum will launch with a major exhibition, The Music Is Black: A British Story, tracing the influence of Black British music from 1900 to today. Presented in partnership with BBC Music, the show will include fashion worn by Little Simz and photography by Jennie Baptiste and Dennis Morris, alongside instruments and archival material.
Visitors will also encounter new large-scale commissions, including a sculpture by Thomas J. Price, and works by leading international artists such as Carrie Mae Weems, Tania Bruguera and Rene Matić. The opening marks the completion of the V&A’s east London campus, following the V&A East Storehouse’s debut in 2025, cementing the museum’s role as a centre for contemporary culture and creative innovation.
Keep an eye out for more information.