Spotlight
Explore the EMYA2026 winners!
The EMYA2026 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony was held in in Bilbao, Spain, from 10 to 14 June. Organised by the EMF and hosted by Euskararen Etxea and its Basque Language Interpretation Centre, the winner of the CoE Museum Prize in 2025.
It brought together members of the EMYA community including former candidates, partners and friends, in addition to the EMYA2026 nominee museums.
Everything you need to know about the EMYA2026 is available here.
Explore
Spotlight
Watch the EMYA2026 Awards Ceremony online!
Watch the EMYA2026 Awards Ceremony online!
The EMYA2026 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony took place in Bilbao, Spain from 10 to 14 June 2026.
We celebrated Europe’s most inspiring museums and revealed the winners across this year’s award categories.
Watch online
June 13th, 2026
The EMYA2026 winners are announced!
The European Museum Forum is happy to announce the winners of the European Museum of the Year Awards for 2026. The winners in different categories under the EMYA scheme were presented on 13 June at the EMYA2026 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony that was held in Bilbao, Spain.
Read more
April 20th, 2026
Young V&A, the 2026 winner of the CoE Museum Prize was awarded during a special ceremony in Strasbourg
At a special ceremony that took place on 20 April 2026 in Strasbourg, Palais de l’Europe, the Young V&A (London, UK) was awarded with the 2026 Council of Europe Museum Prize. The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 2 December 2025.
Read more
December 2nd, 2025
Young V&A (London, United Kingdom) wins 2026 Council of Europe Museum Prize
With great joy, the EMF shares the decision by the CoE on the 2026 Winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize.
Selected by the Culture Committee, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting on 2 December 2025, Young V&A wins the prize.
Read more
November 27th, 2025
EMYA2026 nominees are now announced!
Thirty-four museums are nominated by the EMYA Jury to take part in the EMYA2026 edition.
We express our gratitude to the nominated museums who kept faith with EMYA in applying and in welcoming our judges.
Read more
November 24th, 2025
Update on EMYA Eligibility Criteria: Change Starting with EMYA2028
After the pandemic, EMYA extended the eligibility rule from 3 to 4 years to support museums facing major disruptions. The Jury has now decided to return to the original 3-year rule, starting with the EMYA2028 call.
The 4-year window remains in place for EMYA2027 to ensure no museum is disadvantaged. More details will follow in next year’s call.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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!
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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!
Read more
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!
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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!
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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
Read more
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.
Read moreOur stories
Den Gamle By. National Open-Air Museum of Urban History and Culture, Aarhus, Denmark - the European Museum of the Year 2026
"This is completely overwhelming! It is a huge recognition to receive from across Europe.
The award is a tribute to more than 100 years of development and to the very special spirit of The Old Town, with a dedicated team who live and breathe every day to give guests the best possible experience.
Thank you all for the great support."
Julie Rokkjær Birch, CEO, Den Gamle By
Read more
Young V&A - the Winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2026
"We are hugely honoured and delighted to receive this prestigious award, in recognition of Young V&A's commitment to the creative lives and agency of children and young people today, in which advocacy for young voice is more important than ever.
This award signifies and strengthens the vital role of YV&A as a place where all young visitors and their families are warmly welcomed, inspired and empowered to become active citizens who are creatively confident. Our heartfelt thanks to the Council of Europe."
Dr. Helen Charman FRSA MA Dip
Director of Learning, National Programmes and Young V&A
Our stories
Museum of Madness Institute, Trate, Slovenia - Kenneth Hudson Award for Institutional Courage and Professional Integrity 2026
"Thank you so much, EMYA. I really did not expect this prize because there are so many beautiful museums here that have done so much work. And thanks to our National Correspondent Tanja Roženbergar, who actually suggested that we should apply for this great award. I also have to thank my great team back home, who is working really hard to preserve this heritage and the huge castle.
I would like to dedicate this award to all people who suffered as mental health patients, and also to all those who are still suffering because of how we treat madness and how we treat people with mental health issues. I hope that this prize will also bring better recognition of this topic, that we will all fight for better social inclusion, destigmatisation, and better quality of life for everyone."
Sonja Bezjak, Director, Museum of Madness Institute
Read more
Museum of the Rural Civilisation of Mendrisiotto, Stabio, Switzerland - Portimão Museum Prize for Welcoming, Inclusion, and Belonging 2026
"We are ecstatic, honoured, and a little overwhelmed to have received recognition such as the Portimão Museum Prize. As a small regional ethnographic museum, we are truly delighted to see our work recognised and appreciated internationally. It reminds us that creativity, openness, and a welcoming spirit can make a real difference, regardless of size.
This award makes us feel empowered and motivated to continue growing, strengthening our institution, and finding new ways to serve and inspire our community.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported us throughout this journey: our dedicated team, our volunteers, and all our visitors. This recognition belongs to all of us."
Monica Rusconi, Director, Museum of the Rural Civilisation of Mendrisiotto
Learn more
AlpenStadtMuseum, Sonthofen, Germany - Silletto Prize for Community Participation and Engagement 2026
"This award is a wonderful affirmation not only of the city’s decision to establish the AlpenStadtMuseum as a new cultural hub in Sonthofen, but also of our commitment to working with and for the local community. The Silletto Prize is therefore not only a recognition of the entire museum team and everyone who contributed to the creation of the museum, but also a tribute to the many people with whom we have had the privilege of collaborating on a wide variety of projects over the past three and a half years.
Receiving this award firmly positions the AlpenStadtMuseum on the European museum map, which makes us immensely proud and gives us great encouragement for the future."
Mechthild Fischer, Director, AlpenStadtMuseum
Learn moreOur stories
Sensoria – The House of Fragrances and Flavours Holzminden, Germany - Special Commendation, EMYA2026
"Receiving this Special Commendation is a great honour for Sensoria, and we sincerely thank the EMYA jury for this meaningful recognition.
This distinction highlights Sensoria’s innovative approach to museum interpretation, placing smell and taste at the centre of the visitor experience. It affirms the importance of sensory engagement in making knowledge more accessible, memorable and impactful.
For Sensoria, this acknowledgement is both a privilege and a responsibility. It reinforces our mission to reveal the invisible world of fragrances and flavours to all, and encourages us to continue exploring new ways of innovating. The European Museum Forum is one of the most inspiring networks in the European museum landscape, and we are proud to be part of it."
Barbara Richter, Managing Director of Sensoria
Read more
Tartu City Museum, Estonia - Special Commendation, EMYA2026
"Our Tartu is now two years old — a milestone we celebrated together with the townspeople through guided tours, poetry, stories and shared experiences across the city’s 18 districts. Receiving a Special Commendation at EMYA2026 for the Our Tartu exhibition is a meaningful recognition of the community spirit that shaped this project. It honours everyone who contributed and reminds us how deeply museums belong to their people."
Tartu City Museum Team
Learn more
CERN Science Gateway, Meyrin, Switzerland - Special Commendation, EMYA2026
"Thank you to EMYA for this recognition, dedicated to the hundreds of colleagues, partners, and supporters who contribute their ideas, creativity, and enthusiasm to making and running CERN Science Gateway.
Take a look at the winners and other nominees — all extraordinary museums, full of creative ideas and well worth a visit. As Science Gateway begins its journey, we are grateful to be sharing and learning alongside all of you. What an amazing community."
On behalf of CERN Science Gateway
Emma Sanders, led the Science Gateway exhibition development
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.
Explore
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.
Explore
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’.
Explore
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.
ExploreOur 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.
Read more
