Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Global Cultural Icon Expands: The Dalí Unveils Transformative Vision
Construction to begin in 2026, with opening expected in 2028
St. Petersburg, Fla., March 4, 2026 – The Dalí Museum today announced plans for a transformative expansion. In step with the Tampa Bay region’s explosive growth, this new addition will significantly expand the Museum’s capacity to promote lifelong learning, bringing state-of-the-art immersive experiences to engage and uplift the community.
Since opening in St. Petersburg in 1982, The Dalí has welcomed and inspired more than ten million visitors. Following the debut of its landmark building in 2011, the Museum generated over $1 billion in economic impact for the area, solidifying its role as a global destination for groundbreaking interdisciplinary programming, innovation and scholarship.
Rooted in Salvador Dalí’s demonstration that the world cannot be understood from a single perspective, the expansion reimagines in concrete, steel and digital delivery what a museum can be—creating more inclusive, inspiring environments for growth, dialogue and connection. Long anticipated by the community, it will position the Museum to better serve both local audiences and visitors from around the world in the years ahead.
“We are creating a museum that will stand with the great cultural institutions of the world, prepared to meet the expectations of today’s visitors and the curiosity of those who will walk through these doors decades from now,” said Hank Hine, Executive Director of The Dalí Museum. “This is a defining moment for our institution and for St. Petersburg. It’s not about being bigger; it’s about being bolder. For more than four decades, The Dalí has led through innovation, empowering visitors to see differently and think expansively. This next chapter allows us to move beyond existing limitations and create space, intellectually and physically, for deeper learning, more ambitious experiences and broader access.”
Designing the Museum of the Future
The Beck Group, which constructed the Museum’s landmark 2011 building, has been selected to design and build the expansion. The firm brings deep familiarity with the site and a longstanding partnership with The Dalí. During the design of the expansion, Beck Architecture consulted with internationally recognized architect Yann Weymouth, FAIA, of PBK, architect of the Museum’s original award-winning building, to ensure continuity across the institution.
The expansion introduces a striking new exterior, flexible gallery environments for experiential exhibitions that blend art and technology, a dedicated learning center serving K-12 students and lifelong learners and community-focused spaces designed to support, host and animate social, corporate and cultural events. Together with the Museum’s existing galleries, theater, dome and Avant-garden, the addition will create a dynamic campus that reflects how guests engage with art today and in the future. These spaces will form a vibrant hub where curiosity and empathy thrive, inviting visitors of all ages to experience art as an active, shared journey.
“The exterior design, what we call Reveal, plays with expectation,” said Trevor Lamphier, AIA, Design Principal at The Beck Group, “It extends and reinterprets the existing building, using familiar materials in new ways to create moments of discovery. Like Dalí’s work, the architecture invites a double take, rewarding curiosity and encouraging visitors to slow down and look again. This expansion is about creating an environment that inspires wonder, deepens engagement and strengthens the Museum’s role as an anchor for the community.”
The approximately 35,000-square-foot expansion represents an estimated $65 million investment in the Museum’s future, including early support from Visit St. Pete-Clearwater through its From Visitors with Love initiative, a direct reinvestment of tourist development tax (hotel bed tax) funds, as a testament to Pinellas County’s commitment to arts, innovation and cultural vitality. Groundbreaking is anticipated in fall 2026. The Dalí will remain open throughout construction and plans to open its expanded spaces in 2028.
“The Dalí Museum is a cultural engine for this community and a cornerstone of St. Petersburg’s global identity,” said Brian Lowack, President and CEO of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. “Investments like this strengthen the identity that defines our region and attracts visitors from around the world.”
A 3D model of the proposed expansion will be on view beginning May 2, 2026, as part of The Architecture of The Dalí, a special exhibition exploring the Museum’s architectural evolution and future vision.
To learn more about the vision and future of The Dalí’s expansion and view project renderings and images, visit Expansion.TheDali.org. For more information on The Dalí, visit TheDali.org.
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ABOUT THE DALÍ MUSEUM
The Dalí Museum, located in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., is home to a preeminent collection of the artist’s works, with over 2,400 works representing every period and medium of Salvador Dalí’s creative life. The Dalí is recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with its highest three-star rating; has been named one of seven museums globally that showcase the future by CNN Travel; named one of the 10 most interesting museums in the world by Architectural Digest; and celebrated in 2026 by readers of USAToday as one of the top five art museums in America. The Dalí Museum’s acclaimed digital experiences have received numerous national and international awards for creative innovation. The Museum is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve Dalí’s legacy for generations to come and serve as an active resource in the cultural life of the community and the world at large. Open daily at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701, For more information, visit TheDali.org or explore Bloomberg Connects for The Dalí Museum’s free mobile guide.
ABOUT THE BECK GROUP
The Beck Group is a collaborative team of architects, builders and technology experts transforming how clients design and build. With over 1,000 employees across eleven offices in the U.S. and Mexico, Beck is the largest design-build firm in the country. To learn more about Beck and its commitment to building better communities, visit beckgroup.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS
For more information, please contact:
The Dalí Museum