New V&A East Museum will celebrate making and creativity’s power to bring change.

The V&A has announced that V&A East Museum, designed by architects O’Donnell + Tuomey, will open on East Bank in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 18 April 2026.

Co-created with young people, creatives, and those living, working and studying in east London, V&A East Museum celebrates making and creativity’s power to bring change around the world.

V&A East Museum includes galleries exploring why we make exhibitions, creative commissions and events spotlighting the people, ideas and creativity shaping global culture right now, plus a café by Jikoni, an exciting collaboration with the restaurant group known for ‘cooking without borders’.

Fuelled by the creativity of east London, V&A East Museum brings together the worlds of art, design, fashion, music, and performance, in a brand-new five-storey space right next to East Bank Partners London College of Fashion, UAL, the BBC, Sadler’s Wells East and UCL East. V&A East Museum is sister site to the critically acclaimed V&A East Storehouse, which opened in May 2025.

Gus Casely-Hayford, V&A East Director, said: “In today’s world where we’re facing down challenges from the climate crisis to increasing polarisation, museums and the creative industries have a vital role in bringing people together, celebrating communities, sparking conversations and spotlighting the many ways that global artists, designers and makers are using their creativity to change the world for the better.

"We have created V&A East Museum with and for our audiences, as a welcoming space for all, embedded in east London and with a global outlook, that reflects the multiculturalism of this incredible place that has been the beating heart of creativity for centuries. V&A East Museum is for you – my hope is you’ll find joy, something of yourself and a sense of belonging the moment you walk through the door.”

Jen McLachlan, V&A East Project Director, commented: “We’re proud to see V&A East Museum take its place within the dynamic landscape of East Bank in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Our design is driven by the idea of openness — a building that welcomes its community, celebrates creativity, and frames the exchange between art, people, and place. It’s not just a museum, but a civic space for dialogue, discovery, and shared experience.”

V&A East Museum opens on 18 April 2026 on East Bank, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Find out more about V&A East Museum's opening programme, and plan your visit here.