Manchester Museum: European Museum of the Year

This summer, step inside the European Museum of the Year 2025—right here in Manchester. 

We are deeply honoured to receive one of the museum world’s most prestigious accolades, a recognition that speaks to what truly sets Manchester Museum apart: our communities, our values, and the countless individuals who bring this place to life each day.

Winning the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) 2025 makes us the first university museum to receive it and judges praised how the Museum has ‘reimagined its mission, acknowledging and addressing its complex history by redefining the role of its collections and public programmes.’ Our approach to co-curation was cited as part of this, working with local and diasporic communities to bring new perspectives to collections and challenge traditional narratives.

We were also praised for ‘thoughtful, informed, and impactful community engagement, creating a truly inclusive space where all individuals, regardless of identity or background, can see themselves reflected and represented.’

The collections we care for are merely the beginning—springboards for dialogue, discovery, and reimagining the world around us. It is how we care for them, share them, and use them to shape the future that defines our purpose. 

From co-curated exhibitions like the South Asia Gallery, to our vibrant Celebrates festivals and events, to the Top Floor where young people, artists, and activists gather to envision brighter futures—this is a museum with people at its very heart. 

Being named European Museum of the Year is not a culmination, but a milestone in our ongoing evolution. This summer, you’ll feel that spirit everywhere: in joyful family activities, hands-on workshops, compelling exhibitions, and inviting spaces created for rest, reflection, and connection. 

Whether you are a long-time visitor or discovering us for the first time, you are part of what makes this museum award-winning. Come in, explore, and celebrate with us.