The world’s first museum of youth culture is set to open in London – the only exhibition space to be dedicated solely to the lives of young people.
Initially set to debut this December, the Museum of Youth Culture will now be opening its doors in spring 2026.
It will be based at St Pancras Campus, a new-build tucked behind Camden High Street, an area well known for its youth subculture heritage.
Inside the 6,500 sq ft site, visitors can expect a national collection of youth culture set over three galleries, two of which will be rolling galleries showing highlights from the permanent collection. The third will be a dedicated space for young creatives to exhibit their work.
Displays will include items such as well-worn band T-shirts, photography, rave flyers, dub sound systems and school leavers’ shirts, all celebrating the everyday histories of teenage life over the last century.
Expect a deep dive into different youth subcultures, from bombsite bike racers in post-war London to acid house ravers of northern England.
The museum will also be launching a new programme of educational music production workshops, with world-class tools such as VST plugins, virtual instruments and industry-standard hardware available.
A cafe and record store will also be opened on site, while talks, workshops and community events will also be hosted at the museum.
This will be the first bricks-and-mortar space that the museum will operate in permanently, having only run in pop-up form in recent years. Previous projects from the museum have included “I’m Not Okay: An Emo Retrospective” at the Barbican, which welcomed 55,000 visitors over three months.
Visitors to the museum are invited to donate items such as photos, flyers, ticket stubs and memories to the archives to help shape the exhibition.
Jon Swinstead, founder of the Museum of Youth Culture, said the new museum will be “more than a place to look back, it’s a space to participate, contribute, and shape the cultural narrative together.”
“Camden has been synonymous with music and youth culture for decades, making it the natural home for the museum.
“We’re creating a space for stories that have often been overlooked but are essential to understanding who we are.
“Youth culture drives innovation, challenges norms, and creates communities – it’s one of the most powerful forces in society,” he added. “That’s why it matters. And that’s why we want everyone to be part of it. This isn’t just our museum – it’s yours.”
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