HOW TO ENTER 2026

Open for entries: Friday 31 October 2025

Early bird discount: Save £40 if you enter before 23.59 hrs (GMT) on Sunday 30 November 2025. See Entry Fees below.

Entry deadline: 23:59 hrs (GMT) on Friday 30 January 2026

Shortlist announced: Thursday 12 March 2026

Winners announced: at a live ceremony in London on the evening of Wednesday 13 May 2026

OPENS 31 OCTOBER

We think this is best conveyed by our previous entrants.  

“Entering and attending the M&H Awards is one of the best decisions we’ve ever made at the Mary Rose Trust. In times of austerity and amidst some of the toughest trading conditions our sector has ever faced, it’s vital to celebrate the incredible work our teams and museums do. This event isn’t just more glamorous than the Oscars and more entertaining than the BAFTAs; it’s also a gathering of our peers.

Even if you don’t win, simply being nominated is a massive honour. You know that whoever wins, it makes a significant difference to them and their teams. I’ve attended as a winner, a nominee who didn’t win, and as a guest, and each time I’ve left inspired, engaged, and motivated to show the world how fantastic it is to be part of the Museum and Heritage sector. You won’t regret applying. Trust me.”

Dominic Jones
Chief Executive, The Mary Rose and Director, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

1. Read this page very carefully and in full
2. Review the categories
3. Register/login to the Entry Platform 
4. Start your entry(s) and submit them by midnight (GMT) 30 January 2026
5. Even after submitting your entry you can edit it right up until the deadline

We appreciate that the following is a little lengthy but we really urge you to read it carefully before entering. We’re also always here and happy to help answer any specific questions or concerns you may have. 

Scroll down for all the details or use the quick links menu to jump to the various sections including the all-important Terms & Conditions!

If you have any questions, please ping us an email and we will get straight back to you.

In an attempt to streamline the entry process, the entry forms use standardised language across most of the categories. For example, the word ‘project’ is often used in reference to entries but it is not literal. It could, for example, relate to your shop if you’re entering Shop of the Year or your front-of-house strategy for, say, the Visitor Welcome Award. Indeed, it may relate to activities, partnerships or people. You may have worked for years to create an exhibition, for example, and in that instance, the use of the word ‘project’ refers to the exhibition and all related visitor activities, not the years leading up to it. Likewise, the entry forms and criteria may sometimes refer to ‘museums’ but only as a short-hand for *all* eligible organisations. And where we give examples of groups of people or audiences, it is not exhaustive.

There’s just one category change this year – the new M+H Business of the Year. As the name suggests, this award is open to all businesses, consultancies, agencies, partnerships, and design studios. It has been created to shine a spotlight on the vital contribution that commercial partners make to the museums and heritage sector — celebrating creativity, collaboration, and impact behind the scenes. The winner of this new category will be determined by a sector-wide vote, further helping to raise brand awareness. 

Following feedback from our entrants, every year we update the Top Tips and FAQs and tweak some of the category criteria so please be sure to refer to that carefully when creating your entry. 

Are The Museums + Heritage Awards for YOU?

Are The Museums + Heritage Awards for YOU?

The Museums + Heritage Awards (M+H Awards) are open to all museums, galleries and archives as well as digital, cultural, natural and built heritage organisations and visitor attractions. We welcome and encourage entries from all areas of the cultural sector; from organisations that connect objects, stories and spaces with audiences and people, as well as the individuals, companies, agencies, consultants, freelancers and organisations which support their work.

If you are a supplier, contractor or partner entering a project that you have led, or have worked on, please ensure you have the prior consent of your client (eg a museum, gallery or heritage visitor attraction). We strongly recommend that you collaborate with your client to ensure you are providing all the necessary insight, facts and figures which our judges will be looking for.

All projects/entries must be carried out in the UK (including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man), with the exception of the following categories which are open to international* entrants:

• Best Use of Digital – International
• Exhibition of the Year – International
• M+H Business of the Year – open to businesses in the UK and overseas (see What’s New for 2026)

*International entries relate to where the project/exhibition is based, regardless of the team behind it or the content. For example, a British museum could be involved in the ’project’ but the fact that it takes place elsewhere means that it should be entered into one of the international categories.

Categories and criteria

There are 18 categories to choose from, offering something for everyone regardless of location, size or budget. As you will see, the outline criteria are shown against each category, as well as being displayed when you start your entry, and a series of questions are asked at the point of submitting your entry.  

What is the period of eligibility?

The 2026 M+H Awards, as always, will focus on achievements of the previous calendar year ie 1 January to 31 December 2025. These eligibility dates (ie the calendar year 2025) are there to ensure that entries relate, in the main, to the achievements of 2025. Wider context can be given to your entry, if relevant, but submissions which relate to projects/events which took place years ago and ended prior to 2025 are not eligible.

We do this to ensure that the awards are timely and relevant and that they reflect the sector as it is today, not as it was in the past.

When you come to providing the dates to which your entry applies, please bear in mind the following examples:

1. ‘Project’ started prior to 2025 and ended in 2025 ✅ Eligible *
2. ‘Project’ started prior to 2025 and is ongoing ✅ Eligible *
3. ‘Project’ ran only during 2025 ✅ Eligible
4. ‘Project’ started during 2025 and is ongoing ✅ Eligible
5. ‘Project’ completed in 2024 or earlier. ❌ Ineligible **

* focus on the activities of 2025 but we’re happy for you to provide context by including information about the time preceding 2025.

** the exception to this rule is if your entry is focused on the legacy of a project that concluded outside the period of eligibility

In considering your submission please bear in mind that you are required to give evidence of outcomes and so if the ‘project’ (please refer to the terminology section) you have in mind has only just started at the very end of the eligibility period eg December 2025, you may find that you do not have sufficient evidence to make a submission and would benefit from entering next year instead. Please give this careful consideration.

It is worth noting that context is important so whilst the focus of your submission should be on 2025, you can give background reference to earlier times, if relevant.

How much does it cost to enter?

Free to Enter: Three of the categories are entirely free to enter: Volunteer(s) of the Year; Sustainable Project of the Year and the M+H Sector Impact Award.

Entry Fees for other categories, the following two rates apply:

Early Bird Rate: enter during November 2025 and the entry rate is £100 + VAT (another year, another price freeze!). On submitting your entry, use Discount Code: EarlyBird

Standard Rate: enter from 1 December 2025 up until the closing deadline of 23:59 hrs (GMT) on Friday 30 January 2026 and the entry fee is £140 + VAT

The new M+H Business of the Year category is priced as follows:

Museums + Heritage Business of the Year Early Bird rate: enter during November 2025 and the entry rate is £200 + VAT. On submitting your entry, use Discount Code: EarlyBird

Museums + Heritage Business of the Year standard rate: enter from 1 December 2025 up until the closing deadline of 23:59 hrs (GMT) on Friday 30 January 2026 and the entry fee is £240 + VAT

Please also refer to the Terms & Conditions section regarding tickets to the awards ceremony in the event that you are shortlisted.

PAYMENT METHOD

You are in the right place to enter Museums + Heritage Awards, which are open for entries from Friday 31 October. Please note the following before proceeding:

1. Please ensure you read the category criteria (you can also access this information on the entry platform) as well as the FAQs and T&Cs (below) before compiling your entry. Each category has its own entry form with a series of questions and you can view and download the blank form within the entry platform when you start your entry.
2. To enter you must first register on the entry platform to create an account. Please refer to the above ‘who can enter’ section to check that you/your organisation is eligible.
3. You can draft and re-draft your entry as many times as you like (even after submission) up until the closing deadline of 2359 hrs (GMT) on Friday 30 January 2026.
4. You may enter as many categories as you wish, but you must complete a different submission for each one. You are permitted to enter the same project into more than one category but will be required to complete a new entry form and tailor your answers to the criteria of that category. You are also able to enter the same category more than once, with different projects.
5. Each category has a simple entry form with a few questions. Within the system, you are able to print off a blank form should you wish. This will enable you to work offline and then later copy and paste the contents into the online version.
6. As a part of the entry process, you must provide a minimum of six high-resolution images (pick those that show your entry in its best light). You also have the opportunity to provide other relevant material (additional images, video, website URLs, etc) in support of your entry. We wish to promote the shortlisted and winning entries extensively and cannot do this effectively without images. You are encouraged to submit video content too. For M+H Business of the Year, a one-minute video (it does not require a high production value) is a compulsory part of the entry process.
7. For categories with an entry fee (see the top of this page for details), payment by card is kindly requested. However, if that is impossible, there is an option to request to pay by invoice but please note that payment must be made by Friday 6 March to avoid disqualification.
8. Please note that entries will only be accepted if made via the Museums + Heritage Awards online entry platform.
9. Please refer to our note about terminology above – it will help clarify some issues around definitions
10. Please also take a look at our Terms & Conditions and FAQs which are detailed below. In particular, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that all shortlistees are expected to purchase a minimum of 2 tickets to the Awards ceremony, including details of the ticket pricing. An awards ceremony without shortistees and winners isn’t a ceremony at all!

• Be passionate; make your entry shine!
• Focus on the criteria and tailor your entry to that.
• Don’t assume the judges know your organisation or project.
• Be clear about your success and provide facts and figures such as reach.
• Don’t bury key information in the supporting materials – your answers will determine whether or not the rest is viewed.
• Where relevant, be clear about scale and impact, how many people have benefited?
• Be clear about evaluation and feedback from those who have benefited such as your visitors.
• Prioritise your supporting materials and add clear labels as it is unlikely that it will be possible to view everything, certainly in the earlier rounds.

Our panel of judges is selected for their extensive experience and broad knowledge of the sector.  They sit on the panel in their own right, not on behalf of their respective organisations.

Your submission will be judged on the contents of your entry form and any supporting materials supplied. The only exception is Museums + Heritage Business of the Year which also requires a simple 1-minute video pitch as part of the entry process.

For Museums + Heritage Business of the Year, the shortlistees will be put to a vote to determine the winner, all others are judged by our panel.

Q:  Can I enter the same category more than once?   
A: Yes!  But the nominee or entered project must, of course, differ.

Q:  Can I enter the same project into more than one category? 
A: Yes! But please ensure you tailor your entries to the specific category criteria – don’t just cut and paste your answers! Make sure you’re answers meet the category criteria.

Q:  What is the deadline for entering? 
A: 2359 hrs (GMT) on Friday 30 January 2026

Q:  Can I view the entry form before proceeding? 
A: To view the entry form for your chosen category(s), you must first register on the Awards entry platform. You will find that each category has a PDF entry form which you can view for reference. You can use that to draft your answers but please note they will then need to be copied into the online form in order to make your submission. In other words, you cannot submit the PDF itself.

Q:  Can I make changes to my form once it has been submitted? 
A: You can make changes to your entry right up until the closing deadline of 2359 hrs (GMT) on Friday 30 January 2026, even after submission.

Q:  Do I have to pay before entering? 
A:  No. Payment is only made once your application is complete and you have submitted it.  This means you can log-in, draft (and re-draft) your entry as many times as you like before submitting. Once you have submitted and paid, entry fees are non-refundable, but it is possible to edit your entry, right up until closing deadline.

Q:  What payment methods do you accept?
A: Due to the volume of entries received, we strongly urge you to make payment by card (Visa or Mastercard). However, if that is impossible, there is an option to pay by invoice but please note that invoices must be settled by 6 March to avoid disqualification. If you have any concerns about this please contact us.

Q:  How lengthy is the application process? 
A: We’ve kept it as quick and easy as possible, with most categories requiring no more than 900 words and some being considerably less.

Q:  Can awards judges enter the Museums + Heritage Awards?
A: Our judges aren’t permitted to enter the awards but their colleagues employed by the organisations they work for, can.  The awards judges are selected for their extensive experience in this sector and are on the panel in their own right, not on behalf of their organisation. If an entry is submitted by their colleagues, our judges abstain from the category to which the entry applies.

To preclude their colleagues from entering would be to exclude hundreds of organisations from having an opportunity to participate.

• All entries must be submitted online via the Museums + Heritage Awards online entry platform, which opens on Friday 31 October 2025 Please note: no other method of entry is permitted.
• By entering the Museums + Heritage Awards, you agree to purchase at least two tickets, if you are shortlisted, to the awards ceremony in London on the evening of Wednesday 13 May 2026.

Tickets prices are as follows:

Shortlistees: £256 + VAT per ticket (20% discounted rate). This rate applies to the shortlisted entrant’s booking only, using a unique link which will be provided.

General: £320 + VAT per ticket. 

• Please note that all information provided in your entry form is treated as confidential and shared only with the judging panel. However, general descriptions taken from your entry may be used to promote it should you be shortlisted or win.
• The entry fee, where applicable, must be paid by card on submission of your entry.
• We reserve the right to use the photographs you supply to promote the Awards, our shortlistees and winners. Please ensure you provide the required permissions/licensing information.
• Awards will be made solely at the discretion of the judges. No feedback or correspondence will be entered into about the results, and the judges’ decisions are final.
• By registering and/or entering the Museums + Heritage Awards, you are agreeing to receive information from M and H Media Ltd. Your details will never be shared with a third party and you can unsubscribe very easily anytime you like.