Huge news for Welsh art fans! Cardiff is at long last getting its own modern and contemporary art museum. And you can ogle some art sooner than you might think.
The brand spanking new museum is set to open in 2026, with the Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (AMOCA for short) being the first of its kind in the Welsh capital. It’ll be a not-for-profit, privately owned space backed by Welsh-Swedish entrepreneur and philanthropist Anders Hedlund, and it’ll show around 1,000 works drawn mostly from his own personal collection. Think bold, global, contemporary, Welsh. Yes, this new space is committed to platforming local Welsh artists and the next generation of homegrown talent, as well as bringing in under-represented artists from around the world.
While there’s no confirmed location quite yet, plans are underway to secure a permanent building in Cardiff.
But, fear not, you won’t have to wait until 2026 to get a taste. AMOCA is running a series of preview exhibitions before the big opening next year, starting with a free show called Black Voices from the Museum Collection, which features work by 34 renowned African artists. Better still, this pop-up has already opened. You have until 14 June to catch it at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff city centre. So run, don’t walk. You don’t want to miss it.
The mission of the new museum is to to ‘increase public access to contemporary art, broaden the traditional museum scope and foster creative development by disrupting conventional and stereotypical narratives’. It’s also dedicated to platforming minorities and subcultures – so we can expect work that challenges, celebrates, and maybe even kicks off a bit. We love to see it.
If that wasn’t enough, there’ll also be permanent and rotating exhibitions, artist residencies, talks, workshops, and (praise be) a restaurant. Finally, Cardiff’s getting the contemporary art museum it’s long deserved – and it sounds like it’s sticking around.
And that’s not all Cardiff has to offer. So, why not check out our recommendations for the best things to do? Or grab a bite to eat?
ICYMI: This is officially the best tourist attraction in the UK for 2025.
Plus: It’s official – the best museum in Europe is in the UK.
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