Alistair Hardaker | Image: Dylan Thomas Centre © Adam Dawkins of Your Voice Advocacy
The Swansea museum, which tells the story of the celebrated poet, was announced the 2026 winner today at a ceremony in Birmingham
The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea has received a national award for its work welcoming families and children.
It has been awarded the Family Friendly Museum Award 2026 by charity Kids in Museums.
Run by Swansea Council, the free museum explores the life and work of the celebrated Welsh poet.
Dylan Thomas Centre won the Best Small Museum category at the 2026 ceremony, going on to win the overall Family Friendly Museum Award 2026, announced in Birmingham on Monday 12 October.
All the winners in the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award 2026:
Winner: Best Small Museum + Overall Winner
Dylan Thomas Centre
Winner: Best Medium Museum
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Winner: Best Large Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Winner: Best Accessible Museum
Woodhorn Museum
Winner: Best Museum Careers Initiative
Charleston
Undercover family judges visited the Dylan Thomas Centre prior to its award. The judges praised a “huge variety of creative, hands-on activities, including dressing up, puppet shows, comic-making, trails, word games and interactive exhibits.”
One family judge said: “Genuinely a lovely friendly welcoming museum. Before we’d even left the kids asked if we could come back – we’re planning on going back soon with some friends who are visiting Swansea. Definitely recommend to families in the area.”
Chair of Kids in Museums Paul Sapwell said: “Huge congratulations to the Dylan Thomas Centre, the first Welsh venue to win the Family Friendly Museum Award. Their commitment to creating a welcoming place for children and families of all shapes and sizes continues to go from strength to strength, and it’s great to see that recognised today. With just three members of staff, the museum also shows that creating an amazing experience for families doesn’t always require a big budget or a large team.”
