Five museums have been shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026 and its 120,000-pound prize, including Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, The Box in Plymouth, the National Gallery, and the V&A Storehouse in London.

The winner will be announced on June 25 at a ceremony at Cutty Sark in London, with 20,000 pounds awarded to each of the four runners-up.

The prize totals 120,000 pounds for the winner, with the five nominees under consideration for the title.

Reporting on the shortlist comes from Casey Cooper-Fiske of the Press Association.

The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge is noted for inviting artists to engage with its collection, exemplified by Glenn Ligon’s All Over the Place project.

The Box in Plymouth is the region’s largest cultural centre, backed by 46 million pounds in investment, praised for its local impact despite initial criticisms.

Norwich Castle has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment and reopened recently, enhancing accessibility and visitor experience.

The National Gallery’s bicentenary year in 2025 featured a celebrated rehang, the reopening of the Sainsbury Wing, and a cross-city Jeremy Deller project that boosted its profile.

The V&A East Storehouse opened in May last year, offering interactive experiences and housing the David Bowie Centre with Bowie's archive.

The Box in Plymouth tells Plymouth’s history as a museum, gallery, and archive and recently celebrated its fifth birthday.

The announcement frames the prize as a prestigious cultural award that recognizes innovation and leadership in UK museums.

National Art Pass holders support the prize, with funding from Art Fund members and other supporters, and the finalists highlighted for creativity, community engagement, and ambitious programmes.