Last year was a bumper year for big architectural openings, with many high-profile projects breaking ground, soft launching, or opening to the public.

2026, however, looks like it’s going to be the year of the mega project – as some of the most ambitious (and expensive) architectural blueprints finally move from renders to reality. With a lineup that reads like a “who’s who” of the design world – Zaha Hadid Architects, Snøhetta, BIG, and the late Frank Gehry included – projects set to open their doors in the coming years have been years or in the come cases, over a century—in the making.

From “horizontal skyscrapers” in Milan that double as massive solar farms to MAD Architects’ spaceship-inspired museum in LA, get to know 10 spots that will be dominating your feed this year.

La Sagrada Família, The Tower of Jesus Christ
Barcelona, Spain

After 144 years of construction, the Tower of Jesus Christ is scheduled for completion on June 10, 2026, marking the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. Reaching 172.5 meters, it will officially make the Sagrada Família the tallest church in the world. While some decorative elements will continue into the late 2020s, the structural completion of the main towers marks the end of the “unfinished” era.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Los Angeles, USA

Designed by MAD Architects, this $1 billion “sinuous, spaceship-like” museum is set to open on September 22, 2026. Located in Exposition Park, its biomorphic form features a massive rooftop garden and spans 300,000 square feet. It will house George Lucas’s extensive collection of visual storytelling, from Renaissance painting to digital cinema.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
Saadiyat Island, UAE

Set to become the largest of the Guggenheim outposts, this Frank Gehry-designed museum is expected to finally open its doors in 2026. The structure is a cluster of cones and galleries that use traditional Middle Eastern cooling techniques (wind towers) to manage the desert climate, creating a massive 30,000-square-meter cultural hub.

CityWave
Milan, Italy

Part of the CityLife district, BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)’s “horizontal skyscraper” consists of two office buildings connected by a 140-meter-long curved catenary roof. The roof is notable for being one of the world’s largest urban solar farms, covered entirely in photovoltaic panels to power the complex.

Shanghai Grand Opera House
Shanghai, China

Designed by Snøhetta, this landmark features a striking “unfolding fan” roof that doubles as a public staircase, allowing visitors to walk from the ground level to a rooftop plaza. The spiral geometry of the exterior continues into the interior, connecting three world-class performance halls.

LACMA Expansion (David Geffen Galleries)
Los Angeles, USA

The Peter Zumthor-designed expansion of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is scheduled to open in April 2026. The 347,000-square-foot building is famously designed as a single, elevated horizontal slab that “floats” over Wilshire Boulevard, supported by eight massive pavilions.

V&A East Museum
London, UK

Opening April 18, 2026, in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this new branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum was designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey. The building’s jagged, sculptural exterior was inspired by a 1954 Balenciaga “Sack” dress, reflecting the museum’s focus on fashion and design.

Danjiang Bridge
Taipei, Taiwan

Slated for completion in May 2026, this is set to be the world’s longest single-mast, asymmetric cable-stayed bridge. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the mast reaches 200 meters into the sky, engineered specifically to minimize its footprint in the Tamsui River and avoid obstructing the famous local sunsets.

Obama Presidential Center
Chicago, USA

Opening in mid-2026, this 19-acre campus in Jackson Park was designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. The most prominent feature is the stone-clad museum tower, which incorporates a “screen” of windows that spell out a quote from President Obama in braille, symbolizing inclusivity and community.

Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena
Milan, Italy

Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, this 16,000-seat arena is a key piece of infrastructure for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The building is composed of three shimmering metallic rings that appear to float above one another, intended to serve as a permanent social and concert hub for Milan long after the games conclude.