The Box makes history: shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026
20 April 2026
The Box Plymouth has been named one of five finalists for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026, the world's largest and most prestigious museum prize, putting the city on the national cultural map.
The Box Plymouth is celebrating after being named one of five finalists for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026 the world's largest museum prize competing against some of the UK's most established cultural institutions.
Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries, annually shortlists five outstanding museums for Museum of the Year. The 2026 edition recognises inspiring projects and activity from autumn 2024 through to winter 2025. In addition to looking at the overall achievements of the organisation, judges are tasked to evaluate museums who through unexpected, innovative and forward-thinking practices, are pushing the boundaries of what a museum is or can achieve.
Victoria Pomery, CEO at The Box said:
Being shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year is a huge accolade for The Box and Plymouth and a validation of the hard work of so many individuals. It reflects the creativity, dedication and ambition of our team, partners and community, and the vital role that The Box plays in bringing people together through culture and learning. We’re incredibly proud to represent Plymouth on a national stage and to continue developing The Box as a museum, gallery and archive that belongs to the city.
The Box opened in Plymouth in September 2020 as a museum, gallery and archive following a £48m capital investment and the creation of a new cultural organisation. Determined to be ‘nationally known and locally loved’ The Box has already had an impressive impact. To mark its 5th anniversary in September 2025, The Box published a Social and Economic Impact Report which revealed the transformative effect it has had on local communities, including delivering over £100 million in health and wellbeing benefits and boosting Plymouth's economy by £244m since opening.
Now tracking more than 1.3 million visits in its first five years of operation, The Box is rooted in Plymouth’s histories, using the city’s collections of more than two million artworks, objects, specimens, and archives to narrate the city’s past whilst amplifying the voices of individuals and communities whose histories have been forgotten.
To celebrate the first five years, three artist-led projects in 2025 expanded the gallery’s engagement with local communities, reimagining the future through Plymouth’s past and examining how the reframing of historic collections can challenge traditional museum narratives. Through the exhibition When Will We Be Good Enough? (November 2024 – March 2025), artist Osman Yousefzada transformed how the gallery engaged with colonial histories, while artist Jyll Bradley’s exhibition Running and Returning (April – November 2025) demonstrated how artists can make archives accessible and personally meaningful. Jeremy Deller’s Hello Sailor! (July 2025), as part of The National Gallery’s Triumph of Art initiative, brought collections into the public realm with spectacular joy.
The Learning and Engagement Programme at The Box is a core element of the offer. The family programme welcomes 30,000 visitors annually, while weekly ‘I Wonder’ sensory sessions support social and emotional development for under-5s. The schools programme engages 10,000 children each year. To date 89% of all Plymouth schools have engaged with The Box.
The other shortlisted museums are Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge), National Gallery (London), Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery (Norwich), V&A East Storehouse (London).
The winning museum, recipient of £120,000, will be announced on 25 June at a ceremony at Cutty Sark in London. £20,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists – an increase of £5,000 for each museum – bringing the total prize money to £200,000.
The 2026 judging panel, chaired by Art Fund director Jenny Waldman, includes: Tony Butler OBE (Executive Director of Derby Museums), Yinka Ilori MBE (artist), Alice Loxton (history broadcaster and author) and June Sarpong OBE (broadcaster, writer and campaigner). The judges will visit each of the finalists to inform their decision-making, while each museum will make the most of being shortlisted over the summer through events and activities for new and current visitors.
Speaking on behalf of the judges, Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund said:
Congratulations to The Box on being shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026. The five finalists showcase the extraordinary creativity and innovation that make museums such vibrant and essential places. From opening up world-leading collections to connecting with communities of all ages through ambitious exhibitions and programmes, each one offers something special.
We are thrilled to celebrate their achievements as finalists for Art Fund Museum of the Year, thanks to our National Art Pass members, whose support makes the prize possible. We hope people across the UK will be inspired to explore these remarkable museums, and many other brilliant museums in their local area, to see firsthand the treasures and experiences that are open to everyone.
The prize is funded thanks to the generosity of Art Fund’s members who buy a National Art Pass. Art Pass holders can enjoy 10% in The Box Kitchen & Bar and The Box’s onsite shop from Monday 20 April until Thursday 25 June (Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays), 10% off The Box’s ‘In Conversation: Lisa Reihana and Dr James Fox’ event on Thursday 14 May and an exclusive curator-led tour of The Box’s Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy exhibition for just £10 per person on Monday 11 and 18 May (12.30-2pm). Limited places available – please email [email protected] to receive a booking link.