The Children in Museums Award 2026 is an initiative that celebrates and recognizes outstanding contributions to engaging children in the museum experience. This prestigious award aims to honour institutions and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and creativity in making museums more accessible and enjoyable for our youngest audiences.
The Children in Museums Award acknowledges innovative practices, programs, and exhibits that foster a positive and enriching environment for children in museums. The CMA was established in 2011 by the European Museum Academy and Hands On! International Association of Children in Museums. It recognises excellence and innovation in programmes and exhibits designed for children up to the age of 14 years.
Whether through interactive exhibits, educational programs, or inclusive design, we are looking for initiatives that inspire curiosity, learning, and a sense of wonder in young minds.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
On Friday 25 September 2026, in a ceremony during the European Museum Academy meeting in Alicante, Spain, the results of the 2026 Children in Museums Award were announced. Fifteen museums took part in the competition from eleven countries, with five museums listed as finalists. This is the fifteenth year the Award has been presented.
For its ability to achieve excellence as a private, independent cultural institution without public funding, House of Stories, the winner of the CMA of this year, represents not only a pioneering model for similar initiatives internationally but also a self-sustaining literary ecosystem for young children. It stands out as a ground-breaking institution that combines publishing expertise, artistic co-creation, and museum practice. From its screen-free, tactile environment that gives the spaces a distinctive material warmth to its multi-author curatorial format bringing together 9-12 books side by side in one continuous landscape. It strengthens the connection between parent, child, and the physical book, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of reading at a time when reading for pleasure, especially among young people, is in decline.
We warmly thank all the museums and institutions that took part in this year’s award, with special recognition to the special commendation and the four shortlisted finalists. The outstanding quality of their work was truly inspiring and highlights the worldwide dedication to creating meaningful educational experiences for children.
Here you find the list of the shortlisted museum:
Belgium Mechelen: Technopolis
France Paris: House of Stories
Germany Berlin: Alice: Museum for Children
Poland Kraków: Cricoteka