The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens (EMST) has won the European Museum Academy's Art Museum Award 2026, beating some of Europe's most important museums. The award was presented on the evening of Saturday 26 September in Alicante, Spain. EMST was chosen by a nine-member international jury from six finalists. The shortlist also included the Rijksmuseum and the FENIX Museum of Migration in the Netherlands, the National Gallery of Slovenia in Ljubljana, Hastings Contemporary in the United Kingdom and Museum Gugging in Austria.
The award places the social role of art museums at its centre and seeks out institutions that apply innovative practices and new ideas. According to the Academy, this year's edition was of a particularly high standard, with the jury focusing on museums' consistent and meaningful relationship with their audiences and on how art can connect with the issues society faces today. When the finalists were announced, jury chair Samuel Gallacher said the jury was looking for museums that do not simply impress at first glance, but show genuine and lasting engagement with their audiences. The jury recognised the quality of all six finalists' curatorial practices and their relevance to contemporary social issues. The European Museum Academy Awards ceremony was hosted by the MARQ Archaeological Museum of the province of Alicante, with events held from 24 to 26 September.
