Open for entries: Monday 2nd November 2026

Early bird discount: Save £40 if you enter before 23.59 hrs (GMT) on Monday 30th November 2026. See Entry Fees below.

Entry deadline: 23:59 hrs (GMT) on Friday 29 January 2027

Shortlist announced: w/c 15 March 2027

Winners announced: at a live ceremony in London on the evening of Wednesday 12 May 2027

ENTER HERE

We think this is best conveyed by our previous entrants.  

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) 29 January 2027. To benefit from the £40 Early Bird saving, enter by 30 November.
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 the Best Retail or Trading Initiative category or your front-of-house strategy for, say, the Best Visitor Experience category. 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.

Firstly, we have grouped the categories by theme, making it easier to find the award that best fits your work. This year also brings several category updates:

• A new Best Collections and Collecting Project category.
• One global Digital Experience award, replacing the separate UK and International digital categories.
• Three awards open to non-UK entries: Digital Experience, International Exhibition of the Year and Museums + Heritage Business of the Year.
• Refreshed category names and updated criteria across the programme.

Explore the categories to view the entry criteria for each.

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.

Location:  UK and International categories

For most categories, entries must be for projects delivered in the UK, with the exception of our three international categories which are listed below.

The following three categories have different eligibility criteria relating to project location:

1. Best Use of Digital – Global
   Open to eligible digital projects worldwide, regardless of the location of the organisation submitting the entry.
2. International Exhibition of the Year 
   Open to exhibitions – permanent or temporary – based outside the UK, regardless of where the delivery organisation or company is located. For touring exhibitions, please read the specific notes for each category. If your exhibition toured in the UK in 2026, you are eligible to enter Exhibition of the Year – Temporary or Touring but if, in 2026, it toured internationally, you should enter the International Exhibition of the Year category. 
3. Museums and Heritage Business of the Year
   Open to businesses based in the UK or overseas 

Categories and criteria

There are 19 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 2027 M+H Awards, as always, will focus on achievements of the previous calendar year ie 1 January to 31 December 2026. These eligibility dates (ie the calendar year 2026) are there to ensure that entries relate, in the main, to the achievements of 2026. 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 2026 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 2026 and ended in 2026 ✅ Eligible *
2. ‘Project’ started prior to 2026 and is ongoing ✅ Eligible *
3. ‘Project’ ran only during 2026 ✅ Eligible
4. ‘Project’ started during 2026 and is ongoing ✅ Eligible
5. ‘Project’ completed in 2025 or earlier. ❌ Ineligible **

* focus on the activities of 2026 but we’re happy for you to provide context by including information about the time preceding 2026.

** 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 2026, 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 2026, you can give background reference to earlier times, if relevant.

How much does it cost to enter?
For the third year running, we have frozen the entry prices, details of which are as follows:

Free to Enter: Three of the categories are entirely free to enter: Outstanding Volunteer Contribution; Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability and Outstanding Contribution to the Museum and Heritage Sector

Reduced Entry Fee:  The new Best Collections and Collecting Project category has special introductory entry fee of just £50 + VAT

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

Early Bird Rate: enter during November 2026 and the entry rate is £100 + VAT (another year, another price freeze!). 

Standard Rate: enter from 1 December 2026 up until the closing deadline of 23:59 hrs (GMT) on Friday 29 January 2027 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 2026 and the entry rate is £200 + VAT. 

Museums + Heritage Business of the Year standard rate: enter from 1 December 2026 up until the closing deadline of 23:59 hrs (GMT) on Friday 29 January 2027 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 Monday 2nd November. 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 29 January 2027.
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 5 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.
• Keep an eye on our social media channels and sign-up to our newsletter where we will be sharing Top Tips and FAQs

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 make changes to my entry 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 29 January 2027, even after submission.

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:  My organisation is UK-based but we collaborated with our international partners to deliver an overseas project. 
A: Internationally based exhibitions and digital projects should be entered into International Exhibition of the Year or Best Use of Digital – Global. Please refer to the Location section of the eligibility criteria.

Q:  What is the deadline for entering? 
A: 2359 hrs (GMT) on Friday 29 January 2027

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:  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 Monday 2nd November 2026 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 12 May 2027.

Tickets prices are as follows:

Shortlistees: £266 + 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: £332.50 + 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, should be paid by card on submission of your entry. We do offer an option to request to pay by invoice but please note that all invoices must be settled by 6 March to avoid disqualification.
• Only upload material that you own or have permission for the Awards organisers to use for judging, publicity and the ceremony. Please note that all financial information provided is treated in confidence and will not be shared beyond the judging panel.
• 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.