Spotlight
Save the dates!
The EMYA2026 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony will take place in Bilbao from 10 to 14 June 2026.
Organised by the EMF and hosted by Euskararen Etxea and its Basque Language Interpretation Centre, the event will bring together the EMYA community: past candidates and winners, partners, friends, and this year’s nominee museums.
We cannot wait to share ideas, celebrate achievements, and explore how museums connect with their communities across Europe.
Stay tuned for more information and join us to celebrate this special moment of the year!
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Spotlight
Explore the EMYA2025 winners!
The EMYA2025 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony was held in Białystok, Poland from 21 to 25 May 2025. Organised by the EMF and hosted by the Sybir Memorial Museum in Białystok, the winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2024, the event brought together members of the EMYA community including former candidates, partners and friends, in addition to the EMYA2025 nominee museums.
Everything you need to know about the EMYA2025 is available under the current edition section of our website!
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September 16th, 2025
Call for Design Agency, EMYA Brochures (Closed)
The European Museum Forum is seeking a design agency to support the visual development and publication of its two annual EMYA brochures.
If you are a creative, reliable, and detail-oriented design agency with experience in publishing and digital design for cultural institutions, we would love to hear from you.
Extended closing date: Friday, 31 October 2025.
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September 16th, 2025
Call for Senior Cultural Editor, EMYA Brochures (Closed)
We are seeking an experienced editor to support the preparation of its annual EMYA brochures.
Closing date: Friday, 18 October 2025.
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June 24th, 2025
EMYA2025 testimonials by Museum Studio travel bursaries
We thank the Museum Studio for its generous support and to our grantees for joining us in celebrating the EMYA2025 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony in Białystok, Poland from 21 to 25 May 2025.
You can now read the testimonials the 2025 grantees shared with us!
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May 24th, 2025
The EMYA2025 winners are announced!
The European Museum Forum is happy to announce the winners of the European Museum of the Year Awards for 2025. The winners in different categories under the EMYA scheme were presented on 24 May at the EMYA2025 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony that was held in Białystok, Poland.
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April 7th, 2025
Euskararen Etxea, the 2025 winner of the CoE Museum Prize was awarded during a special ceremony in Strasbourg
At a special ceremony that took place on 7 April 2025 in Strasbourg, Euskararen Etxea, the House of the Basque Language (Bilbao, Spain) was awarded with the 2025 Council of Europe Museum Prize.
The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 3 December 2024.
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December 3rd, 2024
Euskararen Etxea (the House of the Basque Language) wins 2025 Council of Europe Museum Prize
With great joy, the European Museum Forum shares the decision by the CoE on the 2025 Winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize. Selected by the Culture Committee, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting on 3 December 2024, Euskararen Etxea, the House of the Basque Language (Bilbao, Spain) wins the prize.
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November 19th, 2024
EMYA2025 nominees are now announced!
Forty two museums are nominated by the EMYA Jury to take part in this year's edition.
We express our gratitude to the nominated museums who kept faith with EMYA in applying and in welcoming the judges.
Stay tuned for more information!
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July 15th, 2024
EMYA2024 testimonials by Museum Studio travel bursaries
We thank the Museum Studio for its generous support and to our grantees for joining us in celebrating the EMYA2024 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony in Portimão from 1 to 4 May 2024. Here are the testimonials the 2024 grantees shared with us!
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May 4th, 2024
The winners of EMYA2024 are announced!
The European Museum Forum is happy to announce the winners of the European Museum of the Year Awards for 2024. The winners in different categories under the EMYA scheme were presented on the last day of the EMYA2024 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony that was held on 1-4 May 2024 in Portimão.
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April 17th, 2024
The Sybir Memorial Museum, the 2024 winner of the CoE Museum Prize was awarded during a special ceremony in Strasbourg.
At a special ceremony that took place on 16 April 2024 in Strasbourg, the Sybir Memorial Museum (Białystok, Poland) was awarded with the 2024 Council of Europe Museum Prize and symbolically received its trophy. The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 5 December 2023.
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December 5th, 2023
The Sybir Memorial Museum wins 2024 Council of Europe Museum Prize
With great joy, the European Museum Forum shares the decision by the CoE on the 2024 Winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize. Selected by the Culture Committee, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting on 5 December 2023, the Sybir Memorial Museum (Białystok, Poland) wins the prize.
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December 1st, 2023
EMYA2024 nominees are now announced!
Time to announce the EMYA2024 nominees. Fifty museums are nominated by the EMYA Jury to take part in this year's edition. We express our gratitude to the nominated museums who kept faith with EMYA in applying and in welcoming the judges.
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November 15th, 2023
In memoriam of Kimmo Antila
Kimmo Antila, former member of the European Museum of the Year Award Jury and Board Member of the European Museum Forum has passed away from cancer at the young age of 57.
As members of the jury and board who worked with Kimmo, we will always remember his insightful judgement of museums, but also his great heart and capacity for friendship.
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May 23rd, 2023
EMYA2023 testimonials by Museum Studio travel grants
We thank the Chargeurs Museum Studio for its generous support and to our grantees for joining us in celebrating the EMYA2023 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony in Barcelona from 3 to 6 May 2023. Here are the testimonials the 2023 grantees shared with us!
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May 6th, 2023
The winners of EMYA2023 are announced!
The European Museum Forum is happy to announce the winners of the European Museum of the Year Awards for 2023. The winners in different categories under the EMYA scheme were presented on the last day of the EMYA2023 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony that was held on 3-6 May 2023 in Barcelona.
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April 26th, 2023
The Workers Museum, the 2023 winner of the CoE Museum Prize was awarded during a special ceremony in Strasbourg.
At a special ceremony that took place on 25 April 2023 in Strasbourg’s Palais de L'Europe, the Workers Museum (Copenhagen, Denmark) was awarded with the 2023 Council of Europe Museum Prize and received its trophy. The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 5 December 2022.
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December 15th, 2022
Applications for EMYA2024 are now open!
The application process for EMYA2024 is now open! The extended closing date is Thursday, 27 April 2023.
All European museums which are not for profit and have opened or been substantially renewed since January 2019 are eligible to apply. Museums/exhibitions opened for more than 4 years at the time of the application, are not eligible.
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December 6th, 2022
The Workers Museum wins 2023 Council of Europe Museum Prize.
With great joy, the European Museum Forum shares the decision by the CoE on the 2023 Winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize.
Selected by the Culture Committee, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting on 5 December 2022, the Workers Museum (Copenhagen, Denmark) wins the prize.
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December 6th, 2022
EMYA2023 nominees are now announced!
The European Museum Forum is happy to announce the EMYA2023 nominees. Thirty-three museums are nominated by the EMYA Jury to take part in this year's edition.
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May 7th, 2022
The winners of EMYA2022 are announced!
The European Museum Forum is happy to announce the winners of the European Museum of the Year Awards for 2022. The winners in different categories under the EMYA scheme were presented on the last day of the EMYA2022 Annual Conference and Award Ceremony that was held on 4-7 May 2022 in Tartu, Estonia.
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April 26th, 2022
Nano Nagle Place, the 2022 winner of the CoE Museum Prize was awarded during a special ceremony in Strasbourg's Palais Rohan
At a special ceremony that took place on 26 April 2022 in Strasbourg’s Palais Rohan, the Nano Nagle Place (Cork, Ireland) was awarded with the 2022 Council of Europe Museum Prize and received its trophy. The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 3 December 2021.
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March 5th, 2022
Statement by the EMF/EMYA on the invasion of Ukraine
The European Museum Forum (EMF)/European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) is, as are other cultural organisations across the world, deeply concerned and distressed by the attack of the Russian Federation’s army on civilians and civic institutions in Ukraine.
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December 3rd, 2021
Nano Nagle Place - 2022 winner of the Council of Europe Museum prize
The 2021 Council of Europe Museum Prize has been awarded to Nano Nagle Place (Cork, Ireland). The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting on December 3rd 2021.
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June 24th, 2021
Gulag History Museum, the 2021 winner of the CoE Museum Prize was awarded during a special ceremony in Strasbourg's Palais Rohan
At a special ceremony that took place on 22 June 2021 in Strasbourg’s Palais Rohan, the Gulag History Museum (Moscow, Russian Federation) was awarded with the 2021 Council of Europe Museum Prize and received its trophy.
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May 6th, 2021
The winners of the EMYA 2020 and 2021 are now announced!
The European Museum Forum is happy to announce the winners of the European Museum of the Year Awards for 2020 and 2021. The winners in different categories under the EMYA scheme were presented at the online ceremony on 6 May 2021, bringing together members of the EMYA community including candidates, partners and friends.
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February 5th, 2021
The Council of Europe's 2021 Museum Prize goes to Gulag History Museum (Moscow, Russian Federation)
With great joy, the European Museum Forum shares the decision by the CoE on the 2021 Winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize.
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February 4th, 2021
EMYA Book Launch - Revisiting Museums of Influence
EMYA's new book: Revisiting Museums of Influence.
In this online event, Sharon Heal, Director, Museums Association and Trustee of EMF Board, meets Mark O'Neill, Jette Sandahl and Marlen Mouliou, the three co-editors of the EMYA book: Revisiting Museums of Influence. Four Decades of Innovation and Public Quality in European Museums.
January 29th, 2021
Applications for EMYA2022 are now open!
All European museums which are not for profit and have opened or been substantially renewed since January 2017 are eligible to apply.
Closing date: 31 May 2021
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January 18th, 2021
Important update on EMYA2020 and EMYA2021
It is with much regret that the European Museum Forum has to acknowledge that, given the current patterns of Covid-19 contagion we will not be able to conduct the EMYA2020 and EMYA2021 conferences and award ceremonies as live, corporal events in May2021 as planned.
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January 14th, 2021
A new term with new faces at EMF/EMYA
The European Museum Forum is happy to start the new year with some exciting changes both within its Board of Trustees and the EMYA Jury.
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October 21st, 2020
The wisdom of Kennet Hudson (1916 - 1999)
See our History section to watch the videos capturing some of Kenneth Hudson's insights from a lifetime of working to make museums more innovative and responsive to the public.
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May 25th, 2019
The EMYA2019 winners were presented on 25 May, at the 2019 Award Ceremony held in Sarajevo
The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA), organised by the European Museum Forum (EMF), was presented on 25 May, at the 2019 Award Ceremony held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in collaboration with War Childhood Museum, winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2018.
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July 11th, 2018
The European Museum of the Year Award has found a new home
On the July 11th, 2018 the European Museum Forum and the Municipality of Portimao in the Algarve, Portugal signed an agreement that the Museum of Portimao will house and host the EMF Office and Archives
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May 12th, 2018
EMYA2018: the Winners
The European Museum of the Year Award 2018 goes to the DESIGN MUSEUM, London, United Kingdom. Read the article to discover all the 2018's Awards.
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The Awards
The two main awards, the EMYA and the Council of Europe Museum Prize, have been awarded continuously since 1977. The EMYA award scheme responds to long term societal changes as well as current urgent social issues, and reflects the challenges, obligations and opportunities which museums face in the 21st century.
An average of around 45 museums apply each year, from across the 46 CoE member countries, with winners distributed across museums of all types, scales, disciplines and locations.
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The Winners
Museum candidates are either new museums, first opened to the public within the past three years, or established museums that have renewed their organization and completed a substantial programme of modernization and extension of their buildings and galleries.
Over the years the EMYA scheme has developed into a series of different awards, each with their own specific profile. Discover them all.
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About us
The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) was founded in 1977 under the auspices of the Council of Europe, with the aim of recognising excellence in the European museum scene. EMYA was founded in 1977 on the principles of supporting, encouraging, awarding and showcasing excellence and innovation in the museum field, particularly in the areas conceptualised by Kenneth Hudson as ‘public quality’.
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Hosting EMYA
Every year, the EMYA Annual Conference & Awards Ceremony brings together members of the European museum community, including former candidates, EMF trustees and judges, partners, and friends, in addition to the EMYA candidates.
If you are interested in hosting EMYA, here is what you need to know.
ExploreManchester Museum - The European Museum of the Year 2025
"Incredibly humbled and absolutely over the moon to have won this year's European Museum of the Year Award. It fills us with hope when we look at the work being done by museums across Europe to build community and address the biggest challenges our society faces.
This one is for every single one of you who make Manchester Museum what it is - from our wonderful visitors, incredible communities and passionate partners to our amazing staff and volunteers. YOU deserve this!"
Manchester Museum
Our stories
Euskararen Etxea - The Council of Europe Museum Prize Winner 2025
"Linguistic diversity is one of the main characteristics of both Basque and European societies. All the languages in the world are equally valid and equally beautiful, without distinction.
We want to thank the Committee for Culture (CoE) and the EMF for acknowledging our message of hope for the future of our language and for giving us the opportunity to reach out to more people and to go further afield.
This award truly means a strong boost for Euskararen Etxea."
Euskararen Etxea
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Nini Sanadiradze - Kenneth Hudson Award for Institutional Courage and Professional Integrity 2025
"This recognition belongs not only to me, but to all museum professionals who refuse to compromise their values, and to the international museum community whose solidarity was felt during moments of deepest challenge.
I accept this recognition not only as a celebration, but as a commitment — a responsibility to carry this legacy forward with integrity, and to continue defending the idea that cultural institutions must stand firmly on the side of truth, human rights, and democracy — even when the echo is silence."
Nini Sanadiradze
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Alvor Lifeguard Interpretative Centre (CISA) - Silletto Prize for Community Participation and Engagement 2025
"This project of musealizing the Alvor Lifeboat station was something dear to the local community, who had been wishing for a solution for a space and an object that mattered so much to a fishing community that had been somewhat cast aside in years past. They were crucial in preventing, 40 years ago, the lifeboat from being taken by the Portuguese Navy to their museum.
We’re so happy that this community’s work has been acknowledged. The Silletto Award humbled us to continue this line of work with the people of Alvor, knowing that the past can be an important lever for a better and shared future for all."
Alvor Lifeguard Interpretative Centre
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Istanbul Modern - Portimão Museum Prize for Welcoming, Inclusion, and Belonging 2025
"This prize follows the Special Commendation we received in 2009 and marks a meaningful acknowledgment of our long-standing commitment and continuous progress. It encourages us to keep expanding our efforts, deepening our connections with the community, empowering individuals, and fostering dialogue through art.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our visitors, artists, members, and supporters for contributing to the museum’s mission to be an inclusive, accessible, and inspiring institution of arts and culture for everyone."
Istanbul Modern
Read moreOur stories
Agnes Aljas, Co-chair of the EMYA Jury, Estonia
To be a judge means having the opportunity to learn about and understand the innovative ways in which contemporary European museums are working with different topics across diverse fields. It can be a testing duty to evaluate different museums from different traditions that work in different conditions, on different topics and with different collections.
As an EMYA Judge, I endorse new developments and strategies with which museums engage. encouraging innovative knowledge and viewpoints that lead to creative approaches and promoting socially responsible museum work.
Read moreLana Karaia, National Correspondent, Georgia
As National Correspondent, it has been a privilege to accompany and support this journey — by identifying promising institutions, guiding them through the application process, and fostering greater awareness of EMF's mission at the national level. Recognition is never the end — it brings with it a responsibility to continue striving for quality, innovation, and relevance.
I hope this success inspires even more museums in Georgia to see themselves as part of the European museum dialogue — open, forward-looking, and committed to growth.
Read moreAdriana Muñoz, EMF Trustee, Sweden
I am honoured to serve as a trustee of the European Museum Forum at a time when museums are rethinking their role in society. My work as a curator has shown me how collections are never silent: they carry memories of displacement, creativity, and resilience that connect communities across borders to the wider world.
Being part of EMF means engaging with museums that dare to address uncomfortable histories while also creating spaces of dialogue, repair, and imagination. I believe that museums can become places where communities not only recognise their past but also envision more just and sustainable futures.
Through EMYA, I look forward to celebrating and supporting institutions that embody this spirit of transformation throughout the Council of Europe region.
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