
At the time of inception, museums were exclusive spaces, often private collections owned by wealthy patrons or institutions.
The "Wunderkammer" from the 1500s is a perfect example—eclectic rooms filled with oddities like rare animal specimens and artifacts that reflected both intellectual curiosity and the owner's wealth.
Early museums like the Louvre, before its public opening in 1793, served more as showcases for state power and royal collections than places for communal learning.
Of course, the museum we know today is a far cry from their exclusive origins. In 2025, museums like the British Museum in London offer free entry, allowing millions access to priceless treasures from around the world.
Here's the beautiful irony about museums: They may seem timeless, but they’re constantly reinventing themselves to stay relevant. And one big change that’s shaped the last couple of decades? Technology.
Since the 2000s, tech has been sneaking into museums—turning exhibits into interactive experiences that visitors can’t get enough of. By the 2020s, this trend exploded, and now many museum restorations and new museums are all about upgrading spaces with new tech.
Some of these revamped spaces are finally opening their doors in 2025. So, here’s what you can look forward to and where to visit!
📍 V&A East Storehouse, London
Located in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the much-anticipated V&A East Storehouse opens its doors on May 31.

Mark V&A at the top of your museum restorations to visit.
This new museum, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, is part of the Victoria & Albert Museum's expansion and promises an eclectic mix of exhibits. From Elton John’s iconic costumes to Samurai swords, there’s something to fascinate every visitor.
✍🏻 What trend can we expect: What makes this year particularly special is the focus on creating personalized experiences. Museums are upping their game to ensure visitors feel deeply connected to the exhibits—whether it’s artwork, historical artifacts, or immersive displays.
Added emphasis is on keeping that connection alive even after the visit. The easiest way to do that: museum mobile apps.
📌 Example: Take the National Museum of India as an example. During the pandemic, they faced the challenge of staying connected with their audience while their doors were shut.
With the help of Museums22, a diverse digital strategy was rolled out in collaboration with the museum, including:
Immersive audio-visual narratives for three galleries
A museum@home webpage for easy access to resources
Virtual tours and active engagement on social media
On top of that, rare music recordings were digitized and made available on mobile platforms—a move that became a fan favorite among visitors.
The result? A thriving global community that cherishes the museum’s cultural treasures while also actively supporting its future.
📍 Dataland – Los Angeles, California, USA
Not all additions to the museum world in 2025 are museum restorations. In fact, some are brand new—and Dataland is one of the most exciting examples.
Artist Refik Anadol is set to launch the world’s first museum dedicated entirely to AI-driven art. Opening at The Grand LA, a striking development designed by Frank Gehry, Dataland will combine cutting-edge technology with artistic exploration.
As Anadol puts it, “Los Angeles is the perfect city to launch Dataland, a forward-thinking, revolutionary museum in support of the fields to which I have dedicated my career: art, science, technology, and AI research.”
It is important to mention that 2024 was a leading year for AI in the museum world.
For instance, the British Museum used generative AI tools like Midjourney to breathe new life into their Mesoamerican collection. The platform helped transform ancient artifacts into vivid illustrations showing how these objects were used in their original context, adding depth and storytelling to the exhibitions.
✍🏻 What trend can we expect: If AI is the right hand, data is the left. This is why Museums22 has been working to combine both to power museum mobile apps with powerful analytics. Museums22’s CMS dashboard allows museum teams to:
Curate detailed audio guides, GPS tours, and virtual experiences
Configure interactive museum maps for a seamless visitor experience
Manage social media profiles and TripAdvisor pages directly from the platform

By combining AI-driven storytelling with data-backed tools, museums can create immersive experiences while staying connected with audiences beyond their walls.
📍 The Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi
The Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi is already home to the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi. But that’s just the beginning.
In 2025, the district will feature a stellar lineup, including the Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
The Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners, will celebrate the UAE’s rich history and honor the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Meanwhile, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, designed by Mecanoo, will take visitors on a 13.8-billion-year journey, showcasing treasures like Stan, one of the most complete T. rex skeletons.
✍🏻 What trend can we expect: Why do we need a Louvre in Abu Dhabi? Well, for starters, a flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris often costs over $500, putting such trips out of reach for many.
Travel isn't always possible, but that hurts the overall mission of the museum industry: bring people closer to art.
That’s where virtual museum tours are changing the game.
Leading institutions like the British Museum in London, the Vatican Museums, The Met in New York City, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and even the Louvre in Paris have embraced virtual experiences.
📍 The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Indiana
Another one of the iconic museum restorations in 2025 include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in Speedway, Indiana, has been a haven for motorsport fans and history buffs alike. Located on the legendary grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), it celebrates the rich heritage of motorsports, including the iconic Indianapolis 500.
Currently closed for renovations since November 2023, the museum restorations are set to be done by April 2025 with exciting new museum additions.
Inside, visitors can explore a vast collection of race cars, trophies, photographs, and memorabilia, including Indy 500-winning vehicles and treasures from Formula 1, NASCAR, and motorcycle racing.
Once renovations are complete, the museum will feature a brand-new Gasoline Alley exhibit, interactive displays like pit-stop challenges and racing simulators, and other immersive experiences designed by RWS Global, a leader in live experiences.
✍🏻 What trend can we expect: Sometimes, niche museums like automobiles museums face challenges in maintaining visitor engagement and ensuring interactive experiences. This was an issue the Aviation Museum of Kentucky (AMK) encountered before Museums22 stepped in with innovative solutions:
Increased engagement: QR codes were added to exhibits, making it easy for visitors to interact with and learn about displays. A museum app with guided tours enriched the visitor experience and encouraged repeat visits
Multilingual functionality: The app offered tours in multiple languages and tracked visitor behavior, enabling the museum to design future exhibits based on user preferences
Positive feedback: Visitors loved the immersive storytelling and convenience of multilingual tours, which deepened their connection to the exhibits
Community engagement: The app fostered cultural exchange and community building through features like newsletters, offline access, and event updates
The result? AMK saw a significant boost in visitor interaction, positive feedback, and return visits. Together, we were able to create lasting connections between museums and their audiences.
Upgrade Your Museum Experience with Museums22
“Don’t go to a museum with a destination. Museums are wormholes to other worlds. They are ecstasy machines. Follow your eyes to wherever they lead you…and the world should begin to change for you.” – Jerry Saltz
As times change, so do the journeys we embark on, the settings we explore, and the people we meet along the way. Museums, as storytellers of the past and visionaries of the future, have a responsibility to embrace this evolution.
And you don’t have to do it alone. With technology partners like Museums22, you can bring your museum to life with audio guides, virtual tours, interactive dashboards, and AR experiences that leave a lasting impression on visitors without the need for museum restorations.
Ready to blend tradition with innovation? Book a demo with us today and take the first step toward transforming your museum into an unforgettable experience.
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