Five UK museums have been shortlisted for the 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year prize. Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, recently restored through a £27.5 million redevelopment, is nominated alongside the National Gallery in London, The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, The Box in Plymouth, and the V&A East Storehouse in London. The winner, to be announced on 25 June, will receive £120,000.
The prize is the UK's most prestigious museum award, recognizing innovation and public impact. The shortlist highlights major institutional investments, from the National Gallery's bicentenary projects and planned £350m extension to the V&A East Storehouse's visitor-focused, barrier-free display model. It also celebrates regional institutions like The Box, which has significantly boosted Plymouth's local economy, underscoring the vital role museums play in cultural engagement and community regeneration.