Alistair Hardaker | Image: the Museums + Heritage 2025 winners
New sector-voted category joins awards featuring entrants from UK, Qatar, Australia, Denmark, Spain, US and Malta.
Today, Museums + Heritage Awards announces its shortlisted nominees for the Museums + Heritage Awards 2026.
The annual global awards, which celebrate excellence across museums, galleries, and cultural and heritage visitor attractions, will culminate in a ceremony at Hilton Park Lane, London, on the evening of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to announce the winners.
This year’s shortlist includes entrants from across the UK, as well as museums and other cultural organisations in Qatar, Australia, Denmark, Spain, United States and Malta.
The 2026 awards also introduce a new category, ‘Museums + Heritage Business of the Year’, in which one of six shortlisted businesses will be voted winner by the sector.
The remaining shortlist and winners have been chosen by an independent panel of nine judges, who bring a wealth of experience from the museum’s sector.
View the shortlist
Anna Preedy, Director of Museums + Heritage Awards said: “This year’s shortlist truly reflects the extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit within the sector and the drive to bring fresh, innovative ideas to life.
“I am particularly excited to be launching our brand new Museums + Heritage Business of the Year category. The fact that this award is voted for by the sector itself makes it all the more meaningful as it is recognition from your peers, the people who truly understand the challenges and celebrate the ambition behind every new enterprise. The response has been fantastic and the calibre of entries is a real testament to the innovation happening across the sector.
“It is incredibly encouraging to see so many outstanding new businesses making their mark and raising the bar across the museums and heritage landscape.
“Congratulations to everyone on the shortlist. Your passion and determination are an inspiration to the entire sector.”
The 2026 Museums + Heritage Awards categories
Visitor Accessibility Award
sponsored by The Stair Climbing Company
Volunteer(s) of the Year
in partnership with Heritage Volunteering Group
Sustainable Project of the Year
sponsored by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Sector Impact Award
Team of the Year
in partnership with Association of Independent Museums
Visitor Welcome Award
sponsored by Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
Permanent Exhibition of the Year
Temporary or Touring Exhibition of the Year
in partnership with The Exhibitions Group
Shop of the Year
in partnership with Association for Cultural Enterprises
Learning Programme of the Year
in partnership with GEM
Community Engagement Programme of the Year
Marketing + Communications Campaign of the Year
sponsored by Cabbells, in partnership with Arts Marketing Association
Partnership of the Year
in partnership with The Heritage Alliance
Best Use of Digital
Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year
sponsored by Sir Robert McAlpine, in partnership with The Institute of Conservation
Museums + Heritage Business of the Year
Exhibition of the Year – International
sponsored by Marcon
Best Use of Digital – International
Who is shortlisted?
To see the organisations and businesses shortlisted for a Museums + Heritage Award in 2026, see the Museums + Heritage Awards website
