Plymouth's The Box Shines Bright as UK's Top Museum of 2026!

The Box, a museum and art gallery in Plymouth, has been named the 2026 Museum of the Year and received a prize of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds. The award was announced at a ceremony held at the Cutty Sark in London. The judges praised The Box for being a leading example of what a civic museum can achieve. They said the museum has brought over one hundred million pounds in health and wellbeing benefits to the community and has helped Plymouth’s local economy by two hundred and forty-four million pounds. The museum has also reached almost ninety percent of the city’s schools, making it an important place for education.

The Box is owned by Plymouth City Council and has a collection of more than two million artworks, objects, and archival materials. Since opening in 2020, it has welcomed over one point three million visitors. Last year, the museum had a record number of visits, with three hundred and fifty-six thousand people coming through its doors. This was higher than its target of three hundred thousand. The success was partly due to popular exhibitions like Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy, which attracted more than ninety thousand visitors, and Journeys with Mai. The museum features a life-sized model of a woolly mammoth, many skeletons, and interactive digital screens that help visitors learn more about the exhibits.

The other finalists for the award were The National Gallery and V&A East Storehouse in London, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, and Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum. Each of these museums received twenty thousand pounds. Jenny Waldman, the director of Art Fund and chair of the judging panel, called The Box a true jewel in the crown of the South West. June Sarpong, a broadcaster and judge, said The Box stood out because of the pride and connection it has created in Plymouth. She said the museum belongs to the people it serves and offers exhibitions that uncover overlooked histories, as well as spaces for learning and creativity. The Box is helping to change what people think a museum can be, making it a place for everyone in the community.