Princeton University Art Museum Named to TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2026

The Princeton University Art Museum has earned a spot on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2026. This honor arrived six months after the museum reopened its doors following years of expansion work.

TIME called the building “poised to become a landmark.” Each year, the publication assembles its list of 100 top destinations by gathering suggestions from correspondents and contributors across the globe, combined with an open application process.

The museum now stretches across three levels. It covers 146,000 square feet and contains 32 galleries. The project nearly doubled the space available for exhibits and educational programs while updating amenities for visitors.

“Princeton University punched well above its weight class with the October 2025 unveiling of its new art museum,” TIME wrote, according to My Central Jersey.com. “At 146,000 square feet with 32 galleries, its footprint is roughly double the exhibition space of Paris’ Picasso Museum.”

Over 117,000 works of art live here, spanning 5,000 years from societies worldwide. Changing displays feature creations by Auguste Rodin, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Wassily Kandinsky.

North and Latin American artists through the 21st century also appear in the holdings. Six new commissions and purchases feature women and artists of color.

“At a time of self-reflection for both museums and universities, the design embodies the Museum’s long-standing commitment to serve as a hub and a gathering place, a nexus for the arts and humanities,” the institution states on its website, per NJ.com.

The museum first opened in 1982. Officials announced major expansion plans in 2018. Years of design and construction followed before the October 2025 reopening.

Other selections on the list include China’s Songtsam Lodge, Philadelphia’s Netflix House and the United Arab Emirates’ Surf Abu Dhabi. TIME chooses places that offer fresh, engaging experiences—hotels and restaurants, museums, parks and attractions.

The Princeton museum sits at the center of campus. Admission costs nothing, and it welcomes guests every day.

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