Key facts
- Den Gamle By in Aarhus, Denmark, has won the European Museum of the Year Award 2026.
- The museum was lauded for setting a 'new benchmark for innovation, relevance, and its public impact'.
- The award ceremony was held in Bilbao, Spain.
- Other awards presented included the Council of Europe Museum Prize to Young V&A in London.
- The museum focuses on sustainability, equality, and empowerment through interactive exhibitions.
Den Gamle By, an open-air museum in Aarhus, Denmark, has been awarded the European Museum of the Year Award 2026. The institution was recognized for its innovative approach, relevance to contemporary issues, and significant public impact.
The award ceremony took place in Bilbao, Spain, where EMYA's co-chair Daniëlle Kuijten described Den Gamle By as a pioneering institution that integrates historical and modern urban environments to address topics such as migration, sustainability, and social justice.
The museum, which showcases 400 years of urban history through interactive exhibitions, aims to educate the public on pressing issues. Its focus on sustainability is highlighted by activities like cultivating heirloom plant varieties and workshops on repair. The judging panel praised its green credentials and its evolving space that fosters community engagement.
Volunteers play a crucial role in shaping the museum's narratives and embedding it within civic life. Several other museums received accolades at the ceremony, including Young V&A in London for the Council of Europe Museum Prize, and the Museum of Madness Institute in Slovenia for the Kenneth Hudson Award.
The Museum of the Rural Civilisation of Mendrisiotto in Switzerland received the Portimão Museum Prize, while AlpenStadtMuseum in Germany won the Silletto Prize. Finland's Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva was awarded the Museum Prize for Environmental Sustainability. Multiple special commendations were also given to institutions across Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, Greece, and Switzerland.
The jury noted that the 2026 winners collectively demonstrate a commitment to change, questioning established narratives, engaging with difficult histories, and enhancing institutional social relevance. The 50th EMYA award ceremony is scheduled to be held in Bern, Switzerland, on May 30, 2027.