New Worldwide Cultural Openings for Summer Travel
Several notable cultural institutions have recently opened around the world. We have selected key new venues around the world that are worth adding to your summer travel plans. Enjoy your cultural summer holidays!
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© Centre Pompidou Hanwha
Centre Pompidou Hanwha
The Centre Pompidou Hanwha is the first international outpost of the legendary Paris-based Centre Pompidou in South Korea. Housed in the renovated annex of Seoul’s 63 Building in the Yeouido financial district, it officially opened to the public on June 4, 2026. Designed by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte as a luminous “box of light,” the museum features a translucent facade inspired by traditional Korean roof tiles and offers over 3,000 m² of exhibition space across four levels. It serves as a dynamic cultural bridge between France, Korea, and the global art world, with its inaugural exhibition The Cubists: Inventing Modern Vision drawn from the Pompidou’s renowned collection.
The Cubists – Inventing Modern Vision (4 Jun – 4 Oct 2026)
Centre Pompidou Hanwha
50 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Nearest subway: Yeouinaru Station (Line 5), Exit 3
Official website: HERE.
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Shenzhen Natural History Museum (photo courtesy of B+H-3XN-Zhubo)
Shenzhen Natural History Museum
The Shenzhen Natural History Museum is Southern China’s largest natural history institution, serving as the first large-scale comprehensive museum of its kind in the Greater Bay Area. Designed by 3XN, B+H, and Zhubo Design with a striking form inspired by river deltas and integrated landscapes, the 105,300 square meters facility blends architecture with nature through rooftop parks, wetlands, and mountain-like forms. It features multiple themed galleries exploring Earth’s evolution, biodiversity, Shenzhen’s regional ecology, and humanity’s place in the natural world. Trial operations will begin on June 30, 2026, with the official opening on July 28. The museum is free to the public.
© Shenzhen Natural History Museum
Shenzhen Natural History Museum
Yanzi Lake area, Pingshan District, Shenzhen
Metro Line 16 to Shaba Station (沙壆站) and exit via Exit D, or ride the Shenzhen SkyShuttle (深圳云巴) directly to the Natural History Museum West Station (自然博物馆西站).
Free admission
More information HERE.
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© Bustamante Fonds
Bustamante Fonds
The Fonds Bustamante is a new contemporary art foundation founded by French artist and curator Jean-Marc Bustamante. Housed in the beautifully renovated 12th-century Église Sainte-Croix in the historic Roquette district of Arles, it will open on July 9, 2026. The space combines exhibition galleries, an archive of Bustamante’s works, and a platform for contemporary art, reflection, and creation. Its inaugural exhibition, En Miroirs, reflects the artist’s long-standing connection to Arles and features a dialogue between his oeuvre and invited artists. The foundation aims to enrich Arles’ vibrant cultural scene (especially during the Rencontres d’Arles photography festival) as a dynamic new destination for art lovers.
En Miroirs (9 Jul – 30 Oct 2026)
Fonds Bustamante Arles
27 rue de Chartrouse
13200 Arles
France
Official website HERE.
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V&A East Museum London. Image credit Peter Kelleher Victoria & Albert Museum, London
V&A East Museum
The V&A East Museum, which opened on April 18, 2026, is the Victoria and Albert Museum’s exciting new home on East Bank in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey, the five-storey venue is dedicated to global creativity, design, and cultural dialogue. It includes two free permanent Why We Make galleries displaying over 500 objects from the V&A’s collection – covering fashion, performance, architecture, and contemporary art – alongside rotating exhibitions, artist commissions, live events, and community programmes. The Music is Black: A British Story is the landmark inaugural temporary exhibition, running until 3 January 2027.
The Music is Black: A British Story (18 Apr 2026 – 3 Jan 2027)
V&A East Museum
East Bank, 107 Carpenters Rd,
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,
Stratford, London E20 2AR
Free admission – Some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge
Nearest station: Stratford Station (Central Line, Jubilee Line, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth Line)
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© Obama Presidential Center
Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago’s Jackson Park officially opened to the public on June 19, 2026. Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the 19-acre campus features a prominent museum tower, athletic center, children’s play area, gardens, and public spaces. The Center hosts a rich cultural and artistic programme, including rotating exhibitions, performances, film screenings, and community events. It also features high-profile forum talks and conversations, such as the upcoming Layers of America discussion with artist Mark Bradford exploring themes of history, identity, and social justice.
Forum Talks, Mark Bradford: Layers of America (7 July 2026)
Obama Presidential Center
6001 S. Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
Official website HERE.