Key facts
- Thirty-four museums have been nominated for the 2026 European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA).
- The EMYA celebrates excellence, innovation, humanitarianism, and sustainability in museums.
- Judging criteria include creativity, interpretation, presentation, and social responsibility aligned with Council of Europe principles.
- The award ceremony will take place in Bilbao, Spain, on June 13, 2026.
- Euskararen Etxea, the 2025 winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize, will host the event.
Thirty-four museums across Europe have been nominated for the prestigious European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) in 2026. The award, established in 1997, recognizes excellence, innovation, humanitarianism, and sustainability in the museum sector.
The judging committee assesses nominees based on creativity in knowledge production, interpretation, presentation, and social responsibility, ensuring alignment with the core principles of democracy, sustainability, social responsibility, and inclusion. Amina Krvavac, chair of the European Museum Forum, noted the increasing demands on museums in a climate of conflict and polarization.
Among the shortlisted institutions are Museum St John's Hospital in Belgium, Mude – Design Museum in Portugal, Museum of Play in Finland, Obersalzberg Documentation Centre and Sensoria – The House of Fragrances and Flavours in Germany, the National Museum of Resistance and Human Rights in Luxembourg, CERN Science Gateway in Switzerland, and Young V&A in the United Kingdom.
The winner will be announced on June 13, 2026, at Euskararen Etxea in Bilbao, Spain, which is the 2025 winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize.