A new tomorrow for the National Gallery
Following our 200th anniversary celebrations, we are announcing the third stage in our ambitious masterplan. Project Domani, as we have called the initiative, will welcome a brand-new wing and public realm to the Gallery.
This will be the largest transformation since the Gallery’s formation in 1824.
To find a design team for this landmark project, on 10 September 2025, we are launching an architectural competition that will shape our future.
A new wing of the National Gallery and transformation of surrounding public areas
Our ambition is to create an architecturally distinguished, sustainable, and state-of-the-art new wing and public space.
The new wing will be built on the last remaining part of the National Gallery campus: St Vincent House. The property was acquired nearly 30 years ago, for the purpose of expanding gallery space, and currently houses a hotel and office complex.
The project aims to invigorate this corner of central London, connecting Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. Embedding the Gallery as a cornerstone within London’s arts quarter, it will also cement our reputation as a leader in the art world and the UK’s commitment to culture and heritage.
Developing the collection
The development of our collection is also a key aim of the project. At present, the Gallery is home to a world renowned collection of great paintings, and it is our ambition to continue to develop and extend our collection.
For this, we require a new space that not only preserves and displays the artwork, but also elevates the visitor experience. By creating opportunities for unique programming, community engagement, national and international partnerships, this new chapter will redefine how art is experienced and celebrated.
For the benefit of audiences everywhere, the National Gallery will be the one place in the world that presents the history of Western painting in a comprehensive and dynamic way, where the beauty and drama of extraordinary paintings is presented against the timeless and enduring backdrop of great architecture.
Competition launch
The purpose of this competition is to find exceptional architects to take on the extraordinary responsibility that designing this new wing will entail. The selection of an architectural team will take place in two stages:
Stage 1: An open call for expressions of interest from architects that believe they meet the criteria specified in the competition brief.
Stage 2: Up to six architects will be shortlisted and will be asked to expand on how they might approach this specific project.
The competition will be live from midday on Wednesday 10 September, when a link will be published to this page.
Our supporters
To achieve our ambitions, the project has already attracted a groundbreaking £375m of cash pledges. This amount includes the two largest ever single cash donations to a museum or gallery globally.
£150 million is coming from Crankstart, the charitable foundation of Sir Michael Moritz KBE and his wife, Harriet Heyman.
£150 million is coming from the Julia Rausing Trust.
A further £75 million is coming from the National Gallery Trust, National Gallery Chair of Trustees John Booth, plus other donors who wish to remain anonymous.
This funding will also support the Gallery's move to extend its historic collection and marks the beginning of an exciting new collaboration with Tate and other institutions around the world.