The New Museum in New York will reopen on March 21, 2026, after a two-year closure for a major expansion. Designed by OMA / Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas, the project adds 60,000 square feet to the existing SANAA-designed building, bringing the total footprint to nearly 120,000 square feet. New features include expanded exhibition space, a 74-seat Forum, an enlarged Sky Room, artist commissions by Tschabalala Self, Klára Hosnedlová, and Sarah Lucas, a larger bookstore, and a restaurant by Henry Rich with executive chef Julia Sherman. The reopening weekend will offer free admission funded by trustee Charlotte Feng Ford, and the museum will debut the exhibition “New Humans: Memories of the Future,” featuring over 200 artists including Francis Bacon, Salvador Dalí, and contemporary figures like Meriem Bennani and Hito Steyerl.
This reopening matters because it marks a significant physical and programmatic transformation for one of New York’s leading contemporary art institutions, nearly doubling its gallery space and reinforcing its commitment to risk-taking and experimentation. The expansion positions the New Museum to host larger, more ambitious exhibitions and to serve as a hub for emerging and established artists. The timing also coincides with the retirement of longtime director Lisa Phillips, signaling a generational shift in leadership. The increased admission prices and free admission initiative reflect broader trends in museum funding and accessibility.