Grand openings: see what the future brings

Get ready for red carpets, and many new, great experiences! Click here to see events in 2026 and enjoy a sneak peek of the most exciting new spots below:

1. The Museum of the Viking Age

The former Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy in Oslo is being revamped and will open in 2027 as the Museum of the Viking Age.

The museum can boast the world's best-preserved Viking ships and more than 5,500 objects and artefacts from the Viking era.

The new facility will be three times the size of the former museum and will include a restaurant, lecture hall, gift shop, park, research centre, laboratory with public access, and a separate area for visiting school children.

Scheduled to open: 2027

2. The Whale in Vesterålen

Architect: Dorte Mandrup

Buckle up for a whale of a time! The stunning and sleek Whale on the island of Andøya in Vesterålen – considered one of the world’s best places to spot migrating whales – is a coastal viewpoint and a museum and experience centre. The Whale’s stone-covered rooftop will serve as a whale spotting platform, while its will house sprawling exhibition spaces featuring whale artefacts, a café, and a museum shop.

Scheduled to open: 3 June 2027

3. The Vest-Agder Museum

The Vest-Agder Museum works with the collection, preservation, documentation, research and dissemination of the cultural history of Vest-Agder.

The museum consists of 11 visitor destinations: Flekkefjord Museum, Lista museum, Sjølingstad Uldvarefabrik, Mandal Museum, Setesdalsbanen, Gimle Gård, Kristiansand Museum and Open-air Museum, D/S Hestmanden, Odderøya Museum Harbour, Tingvatn, and the Kristiansand Cannon Museum.

In 2024, the Vest-Agder Museum was granted NOK 139 million to construct a new museum building on Odderøya in Kristiansand. It will be open to the general public and will be designed with accessibility in mind. The museum will offer exciting exhibitions and virtual reality experiences!

Scheduled to open: 2028

4. European Region of Gastronomy 2028

Nordland has been named the European Region of Gastronomy 2028 by the jury of the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism (IGCAT) and the European/World Region of Gastronomy (ERG) network!

But you don’t have to wait until 2028 to taste the flavours of Nordland. Discover the unique Arctic kitchen and get a taste of strong food traditions made of local Norwegian ingredients and flavours like seafood, skrei, reindeer and lamb.

Many people are inspired by pure Nordic ingredients, including Mymint from Lofoten, who is one of Norway's most talented young chefs!

5. FIS Alpine World Ski Champion­ship in Narvik in 2029

The championship is the world’s 2nd largest winter sports event after the Winter Olympics, and now it is time for the world to experience the event with unique arctic surroundings in Northern Norway, Narvik!

6. Deich and Fotografiska – a new cultural hub in Oslo

One of the world’s leading museums for contemporary photography is opening in the Norwegian capital. Fotografiska is a global focal point for photography and visual culture, with renowned venues in Stockholm, New York, Berlin, Shanghai, and Tallinn. Fotografiska Oslo opens in 2028 as part of Deich, House of Photography, located in Oslo’s historic former Deichman Main Library. Spanning 14,000 square meters, Deich will bring together vibrant meeting places and dining experiences, all framed by the power of visual storytelling.

The venue will also feature a dedicated cultural stage for talks, performances, and live events. Alongside Fotografiska Oslo, Deich will house the Møller Collection, one of Scandinavia’s most significant private photography collections. When the doors open in 2028, visitors will step into a landmark that honors its historic legacy while embracing contemporary experiences, sharing stories that leave a lasting impression.