Designed to combat social fragmentation, the museum aims to serve as a cultural hub that promotes social cohesion through art, performances, and community engagement, particularly in diverse neighborhoods like Molenbeek and Laken.

The museum's cultural program will be announced in early 2026, and it will also act as a platform for Belgium's representation at the Venice Biennale in 2026, featuring a piece by artist Miet Warlop.

Brussels is set to welcome its first contemporary and modern art museum, developed by the KANAL Foundation in partnership with France's Centre Pompidou, with an opening scheduled for November 2026 after a renovation that began in 2018.

The project emphasizes community involvement through external initiatives like murals created by local students in collaboration with artists, aiming to foster social inclusion.

Since its inception, the project's cost has risen from €150 million in 2018 to an estimated €235 million, with annual operational costs of around €35 million, as efforts are made to manage expenses amid regional financial constraints.

The museum will feature works from the Centre Pompidou's collection alongside its own, and will include CIVA, which focuses on Belgian architecture, as well as amenities such as a restaurant, rooftop bar, library, print shop, and children's playground.