London's Victoria and Albert Museum has announced that its new branch, V&A East Museum, will open to the public on April 18, 2026. The five-story building, designed by Irish architecture firm O'Donnell + Tuomey, is located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will feature exhibitions, live events, site-specific commissions, and performances. The V&A East Storehouse, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, opened earlier this year and offers free behind-the-scenes access to over half a million objects and books from the V&A's collections. Artists Tania Bruguera, Carrie Mae Weems, Rene Matić, and Thomas J. Price have been commissioned to create new works for the museum.
This opening marks the completion of the V&A's long-awaited expansion into east London, part of the larger East Bank cultural quarter that includes BBC Music Studios, Sadler's Wells East, and new campuses for University College London and the London College of Fashion. The museum matters because it extends the V&A's reach into a rapidly developing area, provides dedicated galleries for new acquisitions and east London's artistic and manufacturing history, and offers a studio space aimed at engaging young people. The commissioning of prominent contemporary artists signals the institution's commitment to showcasing diverse, cutting-edge work in a community-focused setting.