THE BOX IN PLYMOUTH WINS 2026 ART FUND MUSEUM OF THE YEAR

The Box, a museum and art gallery in Plymouth, has been named the 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year. The award was presented at a ceremony held on the Cutty Sark at Royal Museums Greenwich in London. The Box received a £120,000 prize fund alongside the honour. Art Fund director Jenny Waldman, who chaired the judging panel, described The Box as a "true jewel in the crown of the South West". The museum is owned by Plymouth City Council.

The Box opened in September 2020 and holds more than two million artworks, objects and archival materials. Since opening, it has welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors. During its 2025/2026 season, the museum recorded 356,000 visits, exceeding its target of 300,000, bolstered by exhibitions including Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy and Journeys with Mai. According to official reports cited by the Art Fund, The Box has generated more than £100m in health and wellbeing benefits and boosted Plymouth's local economy by £244m. The judges noted the museum has reached almost nine in 10 of the city's schools.

Four other finalists competed for the award: The National Gallery and V&A East Storehouse, both in London; Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery; and Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum. Each finalist received £20,000. June Sarpong OBE, a broadcaster and judge for the awards, stated that The Box had "created a sense of pride and connection across Plymouth" and described it as "a museum that genuinely belongs to the people it serves".