The Box Plymouth has been named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026, taking home the £120,000 prize – the world’s largest museum award – in recognition of its ambitious exhibitions, outstanding community engagement and transformative impact on the city.
The award was presented this evening aboard the Cutty Sark at Royal Museums Greenwich, where The Box’s Chief Executive, Victoria Pomery OBE, accepted the prize on behalf of the organisation.
Chosen from a shortlist that included The Fitzwilliam Museum, The National Gallery, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and V&A East Storehouse, The Box was recognised for redefining what a civic museum can be by bringing together art, archives, natural history and local stories under one roof while placing accessibility and community engagement at the centre of its programme.
Since opening in 2020 following a £48 million redevelopment, The Box has welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors, becoming one of the UK’s most successful new cultural institutions. Its collections span more than 2 million artworks, objects, specimens and archival materials, telling the story of Plymouth while connecting local histories to broader national and international narratives.
The judges praised the museum’s ambitious vision and measurable civic impact. Alongside its exhibition programme, The Box has generated more than £100 million in health and wellbeing benefits and contributed £244 million to Plymouth’s economy, while its education programme has reached 89% of the city’s schools.
Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund and Chair of the judging panel, described The Box as “a revelation” and “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,” she said.
Museum Minister Baroness Twycross called the award “thoroughly deserved” following a recent visit, praising The Box as “central to Plymouth’s cultural life” and highlighting its work with schools and local communities.
June Sarpong OBE, broadcaster and member of this year’s judging panel, said The Box had created “a sense of pride and connection” across the city through partnerships with local communities and exhibitions that uncover overlooked histories while creating welcoming spaces for learning and creativity.
The museum has continued to build its reputation through artist-led projects that rethink the role of collections in contemporary society. Recent exhibitions have included Osman Yousefzada’s When Will We Be Good Enough?, Jyll Bradley’s Running and Returning and Jeremy Deller’s Hello Sailor!, each exploring how museums can engage audiences through new perspectives on history, identity and place.
The award also comes as The Box prepares to open two major exhibitions this summer. Echoes of Us presents works from the Government Art Collection, while Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour brings together 26 paintings spanning seven decades of one of Britain’s most celebrated abstract artists.
Beyond its exhibitions, The Box has established itself as a cultural hub for Plymouth through an extensive learning programme. Around 30,000 people take part in its family activities each year, while its schools programme reaches around 10,000 children annually and its weekly sensory sessions support early-years development.
Art Fund Museum of the Year celebrates museums that are reimagining what cultural institutions can achieve through innovation, public engagement and community impact. For The Box, the award marks another milestone in what has been a remarkable first five years.
Opened in 2020 with the ambition of becoming “nationally known and locally loved”, it has rapidly become both.
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