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The 10 most anticipated architecture projects of 2026
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Frank Gehry, Guggenheim Museum, Abu Dhabi, ph. Frank Gehry
From BIG to David Chipperfield, Frank Gehry to Snøhetta: a world tour of the best buildings set to open in 2026
Speaking of the 10 most anticipated architectural projects of 2026, it would be impossible not to mention Milan – which is undergoing profound urban transformation in preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, starting in February. A number of new buildings and infrastructures are destined to change the face of the city, guaranteeing a lasting legacy and real benefits for citizens even beyond the sports event.
But 2026 will also mark the conclusion of many other major international architectural projects around the world, from Uzbekistan to the United States and from the United Arab Emirates to Belgium: it will definitely be a key year for contemporary architecture globally.
Just as in 2025, attention is focused on large public buildings and public utility infrastructures: theatres, museums, airports and, of course, sports facilities designed to respond to collective needs and redefine the relationship between architecture and urban space.
noAarchitecten, EM2N e Sergison Bates architects, KANAL – Centre Pompidou, Bruxelles, ph. Sergison Bates architects
noAarchitecten, EM2N e Sergison Bates architects, KANAL – Centre Pompidou, Bruxelles
In January 1924, designer André Citroën opened his namesake brand’s first headquarters outside France, later expanding them with a large showroom and a car repair shop. Thus, an imposing 20-metre-high steel and glass structure was built, a veritable modern cathedral overlooking the Willebroek Canal. Soon, this very building will become the new home of the KANAL – Centre Pompidou in Brussels. The redevelopment project by Sergison Bates, noaArchitecten, and EM2N will transform the monumental Art Deco building into one of Europe’s largest multidisciplinary cultural hubs dedicated to the arts and to contemporary creativity.
Rafael Viñoly Architects, New terminal at the Amerigo Vespucci Airport, Florence, ph. Rafael Vinoly Architects
Rafael Viñoly Architects, New terminal at the Amerigo Vespucci Airport, Florence
Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport is being renovated with a new terminal designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects. One of the project’s distinctive elements is its rooftop vineyard, which makes the infrastructure simply outstanding. Supported by a network of branching columns, the roof will span a vast 50,000-square-metre space, designed to accommodate nearly 6 million passengers per year.
MAD Architects, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Los Angeles, ph. Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
MAD Architects, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Los Angeles
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will open to the public in September 2026 as a striking new cultural addition to Los Angeles’s Exposition Park. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum is dedicated to illustrated and narrative storytelling, defined as visual works capable of telling stories across different media and times. Works on display will include comics by Charles M. Schulz and Alex Raymond, film concept art by Neal Adams and Ralph McQuarrie, as well as paintings by Frida Kahlo and Jacob Lawrence. The building is designed by Ma Yansong from MAD Architects, while landscape design was entrusted to Mia Lehrer from Studio-MLA.
Frank Gehry, Guggenheim Museum, Abu Dhabi, ph. Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry, Guggenheim Museum, Abu Dhabi
Unfortunately, Frank Gehry will miss the inauguration of his most ambitious project, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The star architect, who passed away in early December, presented the design for this building – which is “larger than life” to say the least – over 20 years ago. The Guggenheim Museum has, in fact, been under construction for approximately 15 years. The building will rise on Saadiyat Island, a new cultural district overlooking the coast of the capital of the United Arab Emirates. With a surface area of 42,000 square metres, it will be the largest of the four Guggenheim locations worldwide, surpassing Guggenheim Bilbao, also designed by Frank Gehry.
