After years of anticipation, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will officially open on December 11, 2026, adding another major cultural institution to Saadiyat Cultural District.
Designed by celebrated architect Frank Gehry, the waterfront museum draws inspiration from the architectural forms of the Gulf. Its striking composition brings together 30 galleries across 11,600 square metres of interior exhibition space, connected by a central atrium. A further 23,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition areas extend into the sculptural cones and terraces surrounding the building, creating space for large-scale installations and artistic commissions.
Inside, visitors can expect modern and contemporary art from the 1960s to the present, spanning painting, sculpture, photography, installation, moving image and new media. Developed since 2009, the collection will offer an international perspective shaped by Abu Dhabi, placing artists from different regions and cultural traditions in conversation with one another.
Rather than presenting art through a strictly chronological or geographical framework, the museum will explore interconnected periods, themes, artistic lineages and exchanges. Visitors will be encouraged to follow their own route through the galleries, while exhibitions, commissions, research and multilingual public programmes will provide further points of discovery.
Dr Valerie Hillings has been appointed the inaugural Director of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, bringing extensive experience in modern and contemporary art to the position. She is already closely connected to the museum, having worked on its collection strategy, acquisitions, pre-opening programme and Frank Gehry-designed building between 2009 and 2018. Most recently Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art, Hillings will now oversee the museum’s strategic direction, inaugural exhibitions and public programmes as it prepares to welcome its first visitors.
The museum will join Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. Together, these institutions position the district as an extraordinary cultural destination, with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi bringing a significant new platform for global modern and contemporary art to the region.
