HULL – Hull’s beloved Maritime Museum is deep into its biggest transformation in decades—and while the doors remain closed, big things are happening behind the scenes.
The reopening date has now been pushed back to spring 2026. Originally expected to return in late 2025, the delay comes after the discovery that the entire roof needs replacing—not just part of it. While that’s added time to the schedule, it’s also ensuring the historic building gets the full care it deserves.
Work on the structure itself is nearly complete, and the museum is entering an exciting new phase: exhibit installation. Over the next year, expect state-of-the-art features like immersive projections, cinematic displays, and even a planetarium to bring Hull’s maritime legacy to life in a way never seen before.
One of the standout moments ahead will be the return of the 40-foot North Atlantic right whale skeleton—remounted and restored—as well as the much-loved polar bear Erik. Thousands of other artefacts, long tucked away in storage, will finally get their moment too.
This is all part of the £30 million Hull Maritime project, which also includes restoring the Spurn Lightship, Arctic Corsair, and regenerating the historic North End Shipyard. It’s a serious investment in the city’s heritage, aiming to put Hull’s maritime past back at the heart of its future.
While the museum remains shut, Hull’s maritime story continues online and through guided tours across the city. The countdown to 2026 is on—and it’ll be worth the wait.
It was actually suppose to originally open in 2024, as the walls said outside this was then changed due to COVID which is understandable and now this further delay now, it’s a shame and the hold-up of the Spurn Lightship. Will the council have to pay more due to delays and will they hold those to account for delays? Like so many things the council has done it’s been delayed and many are unhappy, and you can understand, the same with the Albion Square development.