The Art Fund has announced the five finalists for its Museum of the Year 2026 award, all of which are located in England. The shortlist includes The National Gallery and V&A East Storehouse in London, Norwich Castle, Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, and The Box in Plymouth. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at London's Cutty Sark on June 25.
This is the first time since 2017 that no institutions from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland have been shortlisted, highlighting a concentration of recognized innovation within English museums. The £100,000 prize is the world's largest for museums, and the winner will succeed Beamish, The Living Museum of the North. The selection underscores a focus on institutions that have recently undergone significant redevelopment, hosted major exhibitions, and demonstrated substantial public impact through visitor engagement and economic contribution.