The Box, Plymouth's prominent museum and art gallery, has been named the 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year, securing the top honour and a £120,000 prize. The announcement was made at a ceremony held on the historic Cutty Sark at Royal Museums Greenwich, London, celebrating the institution as a leading example of a civic museum's potential.
Judges were particularly impressed by The Box's profound impact beyond its cultural offerings. They noted that the museum has generated more than £100 million in health and wellbeing benefits for the community, alongside a substantial £244 million boost to Plymouth's local economy. Furthermore, its outreach programmes have engaged almost nine in ten of the city's schools, demonstrating a wide-ranging commitment to education and accessibility.
Jenny Waldman, director of Art Fund and chair of the judging panel, described The Box as a "true jewel in the crown of the South West." The museum, owned by Plymouth City Council, boasts an extensive collection of over two million artworks, objects, and archival materials. Since its opening in September 2020, it has attracted over 1.3 million visitors, exceeding expectations.
The institution celebrated a "record-breaking" 2025/2026 season, welcoming 356,000 visits, which surpassed its target of 300,000. This success followed popular exhibitions such as 'Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy' and 'Journeys with Mai'. Waldman commended The Box for having "transformed how Plymouth's remarkable collections are shared and experienced."
Broadcaster June Sarpong OBE, also a judge for the awards, highlighted "the sense of pride and connection it has created across Plymouth" as a standout feature. She elaborated that The Box is a museum that genuinely belongs to the people it serves, reimagining the role of a museum through exhibitions that uncover overlooked histories and providing welcoming spaces for learning and creativity.
The other four institutions shortlisted for the prestigious award, each receiving £20,000, were The National Gallery and V&A East Storehouse, both located in London; Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery; and Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum.