Plymouth's The Box named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026

The Box, a museum, gallery and archive in Plymouth, has won the 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year award — described as the largest museum prize in the world — together with its £120,000 prize fund, according to The Guardian [1], Art Fund [2] and BBC News [3]. The prize was presented on Thursday 25 June 2026 to Victoria Pomery, chief executive of the Box, by broadcaster June Sarpong, a judge for the award, at a ceremony aboard the Cutty Sark at Royal Museums Greenwich in London, The Guardian reported [1]; Art Fund said the announcement was made at a ceremony on board the Cutty Sark [2]. Judges praised the Box's "ambitious and welcoming approach" and called it "a revelation in so many ways" and "a true jewel in the crown of the south-west," The Guardian wrote [1]. Sarpong said the museum "genuinely belongs to the people it serves," pointing to connections from the Windrush community to local universities, and said the Box is "reimagining what being a museum can mean" [1]. Jenny Waldman, Art Fund director and chair of the judges, said the Box's social and economic impact demonstrated "what long-term investment in culture could achieve," according to The Guardian [1]. The Box opened in 2020 after a £48m capital investment and has since welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors, with judges calling it "a leading example of what a civic museum can achieve," The Guardian reported [1]. A report cited by The Guardian said the Box has generated more than £100m in health and wellbeing benefits, boosted Plymouth's economy by £244m, and engaged with 89% of the city's schools [1]. The Box tells the story of Plymouth through collections of more than 2m artworks, objects and archival materials, The Guardian said [1]. It was one of five finalists — the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge), the National Gallery (London), Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, and V&A East Storehouse (London) — each of which receives £20,000, according to The Guardian [1]. ## Sources [1] The Guardian — "Plymouth's the Box wins 2026 Art Fund museum of the year award" (25 Jun 2026): https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/jun/25/the-box-plymouth-wins-2026-art-fund-museum-of-the-year-award [2] Art Fund — "The Box wins Museum of the Year 2026" (25 Jun 2026): https://www.artfund.org/our-purpose/news/art-fund-museum-of-the-year-2026-announced [3] BBC News — "Plymouth's The Box wins UK 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year" (25 Jun 2026): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gyv40mnnvo