Museums & Heritage Awards

The Museums + Heritage Awards applications open early November to celebrate excellence, innovation and outstanding achievements across the museums, galleries, archives and wider cultural heritage sector.

The awards recognise the organisations, individuals, teams and businesses making a difference across the industry, from preserving historic collections and buildings to creating inspiring visitor experiences, developing innovative exhibitions and engaging new audiences.

Open to museums, galleries, archives, heritage attractions, cultural organisations and businesses supporting the sector, the awards provide an opportunity to showcase successful projects, recognise outstanding work and gain wider industry recognition.

Award Categories

There are 19 categories, grouped into three main areas:

Exhibitions

• UK Exhibition of the Year
• UK Exhibition of the Year – Temporary or Touring
• International Exhibition of the Year

People, Audiences and Communities

• Outstanding Volunteer Contribution
• Outstanding Achievement in Visitor Accessibility
• Outstanding Contribution to the Museums and Heritage Sector
• Team of the Year
• Best Visitor Experience
• Best Learning Programme
• Best Community Engagement Programme

Professional Practice and Enterprise

• Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability
• Best Use of Digital – Global
• Best Retail or Trading Initiative
• Best Marketing + Communications Campaign
• Best Partnership
• Best Collections and Collecting Project
• Best Restoration or Conservation Project
• Museums and Heritage Business of the Year

The 2027 programme also introduces a new Best Collections and Collecting Project category, recognising work involving acquisitions, collections management, documentation, digitisation, provenance research and improving public access to collections.

What Can You Enter?

*It is important to note that entries should focus on a particular project, initiative, campaign or achievement rather than simply nominating an organisation or attraction.

Examples could include:

• A new exhibition, gallery development or major redevelopment.
• A historic building restoration or conservation project.
• An innovative learning or community engagement programme.
• Improvements to visitor accessibility and inclusion.
• An outstanding volunteer or team contribution.
• A successful digital project or immersive visitor experience.
• A sustainability initiative or environmental project.
• A new approach to collections management or interpretation.
• A successful marketing campaign, partnership or retail initiative.

Judges will be looking for clear objectives, creativity, innovation and evidence of positive impact. Strong applications should explain what was achieved, who benefited and what difference the project made, supported by relevant evidence, visitor feedback, statistics, photographs and other supporting material.

Organisations can enter multiple categories, although a separate application is required for each category. The same project can also be entered into more than one category where it meets the relevant criteria.

Entry Fees and Key Dates

Entries are now open, with three categories completely free to enter:

• Outstanding Volunteer Contribution.
• Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability.
• Outstanding Contribution to the Museums and Heritage Sector.

The new Best Collections and Collecting Project category has a reduced introductory fee of £50 + VAT, or £10 + VAT during the early-bird period.

For most other categories:

• Early-bird entry fee: £100 + VAT.
• Standard entry fee: £140 + VAT.
• Early-bird deadline: 30 November 2026, saving £40.

Important dates:

• Entries open: 2 November 2026.
• Early-bird deadline: 30 November 2026.
• Final entry deadline: 29 January 2027.
• Shortlist announced: Week commencing 15 March 2027.
• Awards ceremony: 12 May 2027 in London.

How to Enter

Organisations wishing to enter should first review the individual category criteria and eligibility requirements before registering on the awards entry platform.

Each category has its own application form, with questions tailored to the relevant criteria. Applicants can save and amend their submissions before the closing deadline.

A minimum of six relevant, good-quality photographs is required for entries, with video footage and additional supporting material also welcomed.

Whether you are a large national museum, an independent heritage attraction, a local archive, a cultural organisation or a specialist supplier, the Museums + Heritage Awards offer an opportunity to celebrate the work taking place across the sector.

Find more information the application process here: Museums + Heritage Awards – Museums + Heritage Awards