Museums are continuously threatened by challenges, primarily related to inefficiencies and the threat of extinction in favour of other developments. Given that they are critical mediums for preserving and ensuring the sustainability of culture, history and heritage, efforts to salvage the dilemma must continue. As a solution to similar challenges in other contexts such as housing and office design, the concept of adaptable design has been proposed. Consequently, this paper attempts to unravel the relevance of adaptability in museum design and operation. To support this aim, forty (40) out of 123 relevant peer-reviewed articles were carefully selected from databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar and the Covenant University Repository and reviewed comprehensively. This review was conducted using a thematic analysis of the selected literature, with key themes drawn out and used as the basis for recommendations in line with the research objectives. The issues such as funding, rapid urbanization, social and political factors as well as the opportunities for adaptability as a design strategy in museums were drawn out. Prioritizing user requirements by designers and planners in implementing adaptability, advocacy for more lenient codes for museum construction, and areas for further research was recommended.