Three museums that had been shut for years reopen in October 2026. Each one gives a weekend in its city a fresh reason to go.
What’s happening
Design Museum Gent, Belgium. The museum reopened on 3 October after a four-year renovation and expansion. The new five-storey wing, called DING, was designed by London studio Carmody Groarke with two Belgian practices. Inside you’ll find a planted indoor atrium, a façade made from bricks recycled from municipal waste, and ten toilets, each by a different designer. Public Matter(s): Design and Democracy runs until 11 April 2027. Connect is a free, hands-on show for all ages and runs until 10 January 2027.
Sorolla Museum, Madrid. The former home and studio of the painter Joaquín Sorolla reopened on 15 October after two years of work. The collection now hangs in a new extension, which has step-free access throughout. The historic house itself stays closed for about two more years of restoration, so this phase covers the paintings, not the rooms the family lived in.
Venice Jewish Museum. After six years of work, the museum in the historic Ghetto reopens to the public on 22 October. The project has restored three 16th-century synagogues: the Scola Grande Tedesca, the Scola Canton and the Scola Italiana. It also adds a reconstructed Ghetto apartment and a new permanent exhibition.
What it means for your weekend
Ghent is an easy hop from Brussels or Bruges by train, and the reopened museum is in the old centre. A Madrid weekend can now include Sorolla’s sunlit beach scenes alongside the Prado. In Venice, the Ghetto in Cannaregio is a quieter corner of the city and a good morning away from San Marco.
What to do
- Expect opening-week crowds. Visit midweek or late in the day where you can.
- In Venice, ask the museum how to visit the restored synagogues, as access is arranged through it.
- Check each museum’s official site for current hours and timed-entry rules before you go.
Plan the rest of the trip with our Venice guide, best city breaks in Europe and best holiday destinations in Spain.
