This year is shaping up to be an exciting one for the world of art and culture, with a wave of highly anticipated museum inaugurations and reopenings across the globe. From Paris to Almaty, here are some of the standout cultural spaces making headlines in 2025.
Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, Paris
In fall 2025, the Fondation Cartier will move into a new home in the historic Place du Palais-Royal. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the space features a modular structure and expansive windows that seamlessly blend art with urban life. This relocation coincides with the foundation’s 40th anniversary, marking a pivotal chapter in its history.
FENIX, Rotterdam
Opening on May 16, 2025, FENIX is a new museum in Rotterdam dedicated to stories of migration. Located in a restored 16,000-square-meter warehouse on the Katendrecht peninsula, the museum will explore global migration experiences through contemporary art and interactive exhibitions.
The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York City
After undergoing a major renovation, the Studio Museum in Harlem is set to reopen in fall 2025. The new building, designed by Sir David Adjaye, will feature expanded galleries and community programming spaces, reaffirming the museum’s central role in showcasing art from the African diaspora.
Almaty Museum of Art, Kazakhstan
Expected to open in summer 2025, the Almaty Museum of Art will be the first private modern and contemporary art museum in Central Asia. Founded by collector and philanthropist Nurlan Smagulov, the 9,400-square-meter building—designed by Chapman Taylor—will house over 700 works by Kazakh and Central Asian artists.
Hainan Science Museum, China
Set to debut in 2025 in the city of Haikou, the Hainan Science Museum has been designed by Ma Yansong and MAD Architects. With an architectural form that resembles a rising cloud, the museum promises a unique blend of technology, nature, and education, designed to inspire curiosity and wonder.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
After years of anticipation, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is expected to open its doors in 2025. Designed by Frank Gehry, this museum will be the largest in the Guggenheim network, housing around 1,000 works of contemporary art by artists including Julie Mehretu and Hassan Sharif.
