Brighton and Hove Museums and Brighton & Hove Albion FC have announced that the exhibition will be open from August 2026, just in time for the Seagulls' 125th anniversary.
At a special event in front of the Royal Pavilion to announce the new partnership, Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums, said that this exhibition is "exactly what the city needs".
Hedley Swain CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums _(Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus)_ He told The Argus: "We need to be telling the Albion story in the city centre, and we need to be telling it in the museum.
"It's lovely to think that in years to come, people will travel to go to a game at the Amex, but they'll also come to the museum and come to the Pavilion."
The event featured free kids’ football coaching lessons, courtesy of Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation, whilst club mascot Gully took selfies with fans. Plus, art experts at the museum were running football-themed art sessions for all to enjoy.
Albion club legend Guy Butters _(Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus)_ Club legend Guy Butters, who played for the Albion from 2002 until 2008, is now among the key figures with [Brighton and Hove](https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/by_location/brighton_hove_news/) Albion Foundation and was "delighted" to see the history of his beloved club shown at the museum.
He told The Argus: "To show the journey the Albion have been through is such a special and important thing for the city.
"To go from the years in the wilderness as such when we were playing at the Withdean pitch and didn't really have our own home, to now having the Amex and playing European football to be on that journey is brilliant and to depict it is even better."
Guy said that he had donated his play-off medal from the 2004 game against Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium where the Albion won 1-0 for promotion to Nationwide Division 1.
Tony Bloom opens the Albion display at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery _(Image: BHAFC/Paul Hazlewood)_ The new exhibition will focus on the club’s dramatic journey from 1997 onwards when fans rallied to save Albion from closure and follow the story of its rise from the lower leagues to the Premier League and triumphant entry into elite European football.
The city-centre location will also provide year-round access to both lifelong fans and international visitors who want to connect with the spirit and inspirational story of the Seagulls.
Tony Bloom, chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion FC, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to tell our Sussex and global visiting fanbase about the journey that the club has been on, re-live some of the milestones and history we continue to make and celebrate 125 years of the club.”
Following a formal tender process and competitive pitch, cultural consultancy Barker Langham was chosen to design the exhibition, a 93-square-metre gallery space on the museum’s upper floor.
Peter Karn, creative director of Barker Langham, said: “Barker Langham are thrilled to have been selected to work with Brighton & Hove Museums and Brighton & Hove Albion FC on this deeply inspiring project.
"What really excited us about the project was the opportunity to tell the incredible story of the fans, their dedication over time, and how the fortunes of the club have shaped and will continue to shape the local area."