Five UK museums have been shortlisted for the 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year prize. Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, recently restored through a £27.5 million redevelopment, is nominated alongside the National Gallery in London, The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, The Box in Plymouth, and the V&A East Storehouse in London. The winner, to be announced on 25 June, will receive £120,000.
The Victoria and Albert Museum is expanding its footprint with the opening of V&A East Museum in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on April 18. Led by Director Gus Casely-Hayford, the new five-story institution joins the recently opened V&A East Storehouse as part of the East Bank cultural quarter. The museum will debut with the "Why We Make" galleries, featuring over 500 objects and new commissions by artists such as Tania Bruguera, Carrie Mae Weems, and Thomas J. Price, whose 18-foot bronze sculpture anchors the museum's entrance.
Milano Design Week 2026: guida alle cose da vedere nel distretto di Brera
The Brera Design District has unveiled its extensive programming for Milan Design Week 2026, featuring over 300 events and 217 showrooms under the theme "Essere Progetto." Key highlights include Yinka Ilori’s immersive installation for Veuve Clicquot, a major showcase of Uzbek craftsmanship at Palazzo Citterio curated by Kulapat Yantrasast, and Sara Ricciardi’s large-scale inflatable installation at the Pinacoteca di Brera. To manage the high volume of visitors, organizers have introduced the "Fuorisalone Passport," a digital platform designed to streamline entry and registration across various locations.
The Art Fund has announced the five finalists for its Museum of the Year 2026 award, all of which are located in England. The shortlist includes The National Gallery and V&A East Storehouse in London, Norwich Castle, Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, and The Box in Plymouth. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at London's Cutty Sark on June 25.
V&A East Museum, a major new branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum, opened on 18 April in London's Olympic Park as part of the East Bank cultural quarter. The free-entry museum features permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions, launching with a landmark show titled 'The Music is Black: A British Story,' which traces over a century of Black British music through more than 200 objects. Developed with BBC Music, the exhibition includes items from artists like Winifred Atwell, Little Simz, Skepta, and Mis-Teeq. The museum's permanent display, 'Why We Make,' was co-created with the V&A East Youth Collective and explores global creative motivations. The opening was marked by a star-studded event with performances by AJ Tracey, Beverley Knight, and MNEK.
The V&A East Museum is set to open in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a major new cultural hub for East London. Housed in a striking five-story building designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey—inspired by the couture tailoring of Cristóbal Balenciaga—the museum features two permanent galleries titled "Why We Make" and a dedicated space for major temporary exhibitions. The site emphasizes accessibility with a barrier-free entrance and a collection of over 500 objects spanning art, design, and performance, curated to highlight themes like social justice and environmental action.
The V&A East Museum in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will open on 18 April 2026, completing the institution's east London cultural campus. Designed by O'Donnell + Tuomey, the five-story museum will feature two free permanent "Why We Make" galleries co-curated with local youth groups, showcasing over 500 objects from the V&A collection alongside contemporary works by artists including Yinka Ilori, Tania Bruguera, Carrie Mae Weems, and Thomas J. Price. The opening exhibition, "The Music Is Black: A British Story," will chart the influence of Black British music from 1900 to the present.
Somerset House in London has announced the first five winners of its Talent 25 programme, a scheme supporting artistic innovators within its creative community. The awardees—Shanti Bell, Tyreis Holder, enorê, Identity 2.0 (founded by Arda Awais & Savena Surana), and Piarvé Wetshi—each receive an £8,000 bursary and mentorship from artist-designer Yinka Ilori to develop new work. Their creations will be exhibited in September as part of the Step Inside 25 Weekend, celebrating 25 years of Somerset House's public opening.
Somerset House, a central London center for contemporary art and innovation, will host a free weekend of interactive events on September 13-14 to celebrate 25 years as a public space. The Step Inside 25 Weekend will feature installations by Turner Prize-winning artist Tai Shani, musician Gaika, and sound artist Nick Ryan, alongside works from the inaugural Talent 25 awardees—a new mentorship program led by artist Yinka Ilori. The event will open rarely accessible areas like the Deadhouse subterranean spaces and the Portico Rooms.
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