The Design Museum Ghent celebrated its reopening in October 2026. Pictured: the view from the courtyard. (Photo: © Filip Dujardin for Design Museum Ghent)

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Design Museum Ghent celebrates reopening

2 October 2026

The Design Museum Gent officially reopened its doors on October 3, 2026, after a four-year transformation phase, presenting a radically new concept as a vibrant place for social discourse.

The Design Museum Ghent will shine in new splendor in October 2026. City Councillor Astrid De Bruycker is deeply impressed by this architectural work : "It respects what was already there and demonstrates ambition for what the city of Ghent wants to be: a city that invests in culture – not as a luxury for a select few, but as a fundamental right, as oxygen for everyone who lives, works, creates, and explores in our city."

The entire site as an integrated whole

The Design Museum Ghent blends seamlessly into the cityscape – yet still stands out. Photo: © Johan Dehlin

The grand reopening also marks the end of Director Katrien Laporte's tenure . She has led the museum since October 2013 and is now handing over the reins to a new team. Under her leadership, the five-story museum complex, including the new wing called Design in Ghent , was completed. This wing fills a decades-long gap in the courtyard and creates an accessible circular route through all the galleries.

Laporte recalls the selection of the architectural team that prevailed against international competition: "Candidates from all over the world, architectural teams, design teams, and the winning design by Atama, Carmody Groarke and RE-ST ." This design stood out because it looked beyond the building itself and considered the entire site as an integrated whole.

Historic preservation, functionality and economic efficiency

The new building sets new standards in circular construction , as its facade consists of over 82.000 unfired recycled bricks made from local construction waste, and the entrance gate was manufactured using aluminum 3D printing . The glass-enclosed ground floor serves as an open meeting space for the public. In addition to the modern wing, the existing structure was also comprehensively modernized . Katrien Laporte emphasizes the successful balance between historic preservation, functionality, and cost-effectiveness : "We restored the old wing in such a way that we meet the museum's requirements while adhering to international standards . We were also able to preserve the interiors from the historic 18th century."

The reopening will be celebrated from October 3rd to 11th, 2026 with a ten-day festival involving the local population and presenting four new exhibitions that will make the 24.000-object collection accessible in a forward-looking way.

Photos: The Design Museum Ghent

Image gallery

View of the Design Museum Ghent from the Count's Castle. (Photo: © Michiel De Cleene for Design Museum Ghent)

The museum consists of a historic 18th-century manor house combined with a modern extension. (Photo: © Visit Gent)

The staircase in the new DING wing (for 'Design in Ghent') on the ground floor. (Photo: © Johan Dehlin)

A look at special projects in the design department: toilets made from various bio-based materials. (Photo: © Michiel De Cleene for Design Museum Gent)