Fondation Beyeler Expansion 2026: Peter Zumthor's New Museum in Basel

Fondation Beyeler Expansion 2026 brings Peter Zumthor’s new Wyss Museum into dialogue with Renzo Piano’s existing museum, an expanded park and the inaugural exhibition Constellations in Riehen near Basel.

The Fondation Beyeler expansion 2026 began opening to the public on 26 September, extending the museum ensemble in Riehen, just outside Basel. Designed by Peter Zumthor, the new Wyss Museum adds around 1,500 square metres of exhibition space across three floors. It stands alongside Renzo Piano’s existing Beyeler Museum, which remains unchanged.

Zumthor’s project also includes the Ammann Pavilion and Erlen Torhaus, while restored historic buildings and an expanded park form part of the wider ensemble. The intention is less to replace the Piano building than to create a larger sequence of exhibition rooms, gardens and public spaces.

For visitors, the central reason to plan a visit now is Constellations, the first exhibition to occupy both the Wyss Museum and the existing Beyeler Museum. Running from 26 September 2026 to 5 September 2027, it brings together around 230 works from the Fondation Beyeler collection, new acquisitions, donations and loans. The exhibition extends through the park and restored historic buildings, making the relationship between art, architecture and landscape part of the visit.

The Fondation Beyeler expansion 2026 is opening gradually. During the initial preview phase, access is limited and opening days differ from the museum’s normal schedule. From January 2027, the expanded Fondation Beyeler is scheduled to return to regular daily opening. Current opening information lists Wednesday hours of 10am–8pm and Thursday–Sunday from 10am–6pm, with Monday and Tuesday closed during the preview phase.

For an art-focused Basel itinerary, the new ensemble adds a substantial architectural and exhibition destination without changing the character of the original Renzo Piano museum. The result is a broader Fondation Beyeler to see across a single visit, with Constellations providing the first reason to make the journey.