Young V&A wins European museum prize

The Young V&A in London, which reopened in 2023 after a £13m reimagining, has been named the winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2026.

The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at a meeting in Paris, and the prize will be officially awarded at a ceremony in Strasbourg next April.

Luz Martínez Seijo, the committee representative for the museum prize,  said: “The Young V&A is a clearly outstanding museum in terms of its mission to engage visitors with the themes of human rights, equality, participation and cultural democracy.

“It conveys a strong message of empowerment of young generations, particularly those from deprived areas who may have limited contact with mainstream and institutional cultural offerings, with experiences that can help them embrace the future with confidence and participate fully in democratic societies.”

The Council of Europe Museum Prize has been awarded annually since 1977 to a museum judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding of European cultural heritage, the promotion of respect for human rights and democracy, bridging cultures, overcoming social and political borders, broadening visitors' knowledge and understanding of contemporary societal issues and exploring ideas of democratic citizenship.

Helen Charman, the director of learning and national programmes at the Young V&A, said: "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 Young V&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."

The award is part of the wider European Museum of the Year Awards (Emya), which will be announced at the organisation’s conference in Bilbao next June.

Euskararen Etxea (House of the Basque Language) in Bilbao won the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2025, while Manchester Museum was named European Museum of the Year.

Thirty-five museums are in the running for the awards in 2026 but a shortlist has not yet been announced.

The 2027 edition of the awards opened for nominations this week, with an application deadline of 15 April 2026.