Rio de Janeiro museum by Diller Scofidio + Renfro set to open after 15 years

The Museum of Image and Sound by American architecture studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro in Rio de Janeiro is set for a "soft opening" in early 2026, after more than ten years of delays, with photos showing its multi-level form and massive ramps.

The new home for the Rio de Janeiro Museum of Image and Sound (The Museu da Imagem e do Som do Rio de Janeiro) by Diller Scofidio & Renfro, located in Copacabana, has been under construction since 2010.

According to the local news outlet G1, local officials said it will have a "soft opening" in early 2026, with a full opening scheduled for the latter half of 2026.

As of fall 2025, the building's structural elements were mostly complete. According to the most recent updates, after the building's completion in early 2026, internal exhibition work will begin. The internal fit-out will be overseen by the non-profit institution Roberto Marinho Foundation.

Designs were released in 2009, and completion was originally set for 2014. Construction delays started when the team encountered water on the first two floors, and have continued, with a major pause that stretched from 2016 to 2021.

The project is funded by public and private entities, although it's been largely overseen by the city government in the latter half of its construction. According to G1, along with design and construction changes, the project has been delayed by a lack of finances and also suffered from Brazil's fiscal crisis of 2016.

It was originally designed as a "vertical" play on Copacabana's sidewalks, according to Diller Scofidio + Renfro, which lines the beachfront and consists of black and white waves.

These distinct sidewalks informed the design, with a backside clad in a grey and white tile.

Along the backside of the building, angled grey and white tiles will create a portrait of Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian singer and actress who rose to prominence in the 1940s and was known for her samba and elaborate fruit-filled headdresses in US and elsewhere.

It is set to replace the current Rio de Janeiro Museum of Image and Sound, located in the Lapa neighbourhood, and will eventually contain an extensive audiovisual collection, which will be predominantly focused on Brazilian culture and local artists.

Other recent projects in Brazil include the installation of a future-casting exhibition at the Museum of the Future, while Kéré Architecture recently released designs for a project across from the Rio Carnival parade grounds.

The photography is by Ellen Eberhardt

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