The V&A East Museum will be all about the process of making, spotlighting the people, ideas and creativity shaping global culture right now
It’s an important month for London’s beloved Victoria & Albert Museum, an institution of art, fashion, culture and history in the heart of Kensington. After a decade-long development, its East London presence will soon be complete, with the V&A East Museum officially launching in Stratford this 18 April 2026, joining the V&A East Storehouse, a purpose-built public space that takes you behind the scenes of a working museum.
As two neighbouring hubs of creativity in Stratford’s East Bank, they bring culture and design to the fore, inviting one an all to engage with their displays and explore the museum’s rich collection. While the Storehouse is stacked with archival material of over 250,000 objects and 350,000 books, the V&A East Museum is all about the process of making, with galleries, exhibitions and events spotlighting the people, ideas and creativity shaping global culture right now.
The building itself is also a work of art. Designed by Dublin-based O’Donnell + Tuomey, it takes on an elegant, albeit unusual form, featuring a geometric, faceted exterior with different points of entry crafted to be as inviting as possible. Visitors are taken from the ground level, where the retail store and café are, to a generous, winding staircase that takes visitors up to the galleries. The opening will kick off with The Music is Black: A British Story, a revelation of how Black British music has shaped British culture for 125 years. There will also be two permanent exhibits, offices, education spaces and a multifunctional event area at the top level.
Admission will be free, with some exhibitions and events carrying a separate charge. Featured photo by Hufton+Crow