The Box wins Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026
The Box in Plymouth was announced as Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026 this evening, at a ceremony on board the Cutty Sark, Royal Museums Greenwich.
Victoria Pomery OBE, Chief Executive of The Box, was presented with the £120,000 prize – the largest museum prize in the world – by June Sarpong, broadcaster and a judge for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026.
The judges selected The Box for its ambitious and welcoming approach – bringing together extraordinary collections, exhibitions and archives under one roof, alongside impactful community work and a deep commitment to access for all.
The Box is a museum, gallery and archive that tells the story of Plymouth through its collections of more than two million artworks, objects, specimens and archival materials. Welcoming more than 1.3 million visitors since opening in 2020, The Box has become a leading example of what a civic museum can achieve – generating over £100 million in health and wellbeing benefits, boosting Plymouth’s local economy by £244 million and reaching 89% of Plymouth schools.
Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund and chair of the judges for Art Fund Museum of the Year, said:
“The Box is a revelation in so many ways – a true jewel in the crown of the South West. In just five years, it has transformed how Plymouth’s remarkable collections are shared and experienced, creating a welcoming space for visitors and reaching beyond its walls into public spaces and almost every school in the city. Its social and economic impact demonstrates what long-term investment in culture can achieve – and is recognised and championed by Plymouth City Council.
“This summer offers a compelling invitation to visit – alongside its great collections you’ll find a major exhibition on Gillian Ayres, one of Britain’s most influential abstract painters, plus Echoes of Us, bringing together works from the Government Art Collection by artists including Barbara Hepworth and Chris Ofili. Huge congratulations to the whole team on winning Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026 – I know you’ll continue to bring joy and inspiration to the people of Plymouth and beyond for many years to come – and thank you to our supporters and National Art Pass members for making the prize possible.”
June Sarpong OBE, broadcaster and judge for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026, said:
“What stood out so strongly with The Box was the sense of pride and connection it has created across Plymouth. From local groups such as the Windrush community to its partnerships with the university, it is a museum that genuinely belongs to the people it serves. Through exhibitions that uncover overlooked histories to welcoming spaces for learning and creativity, The Box is reimagining what being a museum can mean.”
“Nationally known and locally loved”
The Box opened in Plymouth in September 2020 following a £48m capital investment and the creation of a new cultural organisation. Striving to be “nationally known and locally loved”, it has developed into a major institution with impressive impact across the city.
To mark its fifth anniversary in September 2025, The Box published a Social and Economic Impact Report revealing its effect on local communities, including more than £100 million in health and wellbeing benefits and a £244 million boost to Plymouth’s economy since opening.
Now recording more than 1.3 million visits in its first five years, The Box is rooted in Plymouth’s histories, using the city’s collections to narrate Plymouth’s past while amplifying the voices of individuals and communities whose stories have too often been overlooked.
Three artist-led projects in 2025 expanded the gallery’s engagement with local communities, reimagining the future through Plymouth’s past and examining how reframing 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 more accessible and personally relevant. Jeremy Deller’s Hello Sailor! (July 2025), part of The National Gallery’s The Triumph of Art, brought collections into the public realm with spectacular joy.
This summer The Box presents two major shows: Echoes of Us (20 June – 20 September), featuring works from the Government Art Collection, and Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour (4 July – 4 October), bringing together 26 works spanning seven decades of one of Britain's most influential abstract painters.
The Learning and Engagement Programme is central to The Box’s offer. Its family programme welcomes 30,000 visitors annually, while weekly ‘I Wonder’ sensory sessions support social and emotional development for under-5s. Its schools programme reaches 10,000 children each year, engaging 89% of all Plymouth schools to date.
Five finalists
The Box Plymouth was one of five finalists. The other shortlisted museums, all highly commended by the judges, are: The Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge), The National Gallery (London), Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery (Norwich) and V&A East Storehouse (London).
Each finalist will receive £20,000. Together with £120,000 received by the winning museum, the total prize money for Art Fund Museum of the Year is £200,000.
The 2026 judging panel comprised Tony Butler OBE (Executive Director of Derby Museums), Alice Loxton (historian, author and broadcaster) and June Sarpong OBE (broadcaster, writer and campaigner) and Art Fund director Jenny Waldman.
The prize is funded thanks to Art Fund's members who buy a National Art Pass, alongside the many funders and individuals who generously support Art Fund's work. National Art Pass holders enjoy discounts and benefits at the shortlisted museums and hundreds more across the UK.
Art Fund 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.
All five of this year’s shortlisted museums demonstrate the vital role museums play in creating a brighter and more connected future for all. The prize not only celebrates the shortlist but shines a light on all museums and galleries across the UK, inspiring people to visit.
Find out more about Art Fund Museum of the Year and explore the winner and finalists.