“The World’s Most Beautiful Museums” — Prix Versailles 2026

The global architecture award reshaping “museums” into experiences of the future

Panlop Samsi

Paris, May 2026 — In an era when museums are no longer merely places for preserving historical objects, the global award platform Prix Versailles is reflecting how “architecture” and “experience” have become the new heart of the contemporary cultural world.

Prix Versailles is an international architecture and design award held under the patronage of UNESCO in Paris. Founded in 2015, it honors outstanding works of contemporary architecture for their beauty, innovation, sustainability, and connection to the cultural context of each place.

Over the years, Prix Versailles has become one of the key reference platforms in the global architecture scene, covering airports, hotels, restaurants, campuses, museums, and public spaces. The selected projects often attract attention from the design world, real estate investors, and the international tourism industry.

For 2026, Prix Versailles has announced its list of the “World’s Most Beautiful Museums,” comprising seven museums that reflect a new direction in the museum world—one in which museums are no longer competing only on “content,” but also as “architectural experiences.”

Musée national Zayed (Abou Dhabi, Émirats arabes unis) © Zayed National Museum – متحف زايد الوطني

One of the major highlights is the Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. The museum stands out for its design inspired by falcon wings, an important symbol of Arab culture, powerfully combining modern technology with local identity.

MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives (Tokyo, Japon) © Yasuyuki Takaki

Another museum drawing attention is MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives in Tokyo, Japan. This contemporary museum presents the concept of “storytelling” through immersive exhibition spaces, earning recognition as one of the important representatives of Asia’s new generation of museums.

Xuelei Fragrance Museum (Guangzhou, China) © Xuelei Fragrance Museum

Meanwhile, the Xuelei Fragrance Museum in China has been widely discussed for its design that integrates “scent” with architecture, creating a multidimensional experience distinct from traditional museums.

Musée national de la Medal of Honor (Arlington, États-Unis) © Vinoly_NMOHM

In the United States, the National Medal of Honor Museum has been praised as a work of contemporary architecture that reflects “honor and memory” through a striking and powerful building form.

Science & Technology Museum (Shenzhen, China) © Virgile Simon Bertrand

This is a science museum of the future, distinguished by futuristic architecture and interactive exhibition spaces. It reflects Shenzhen’s role as a global city of innovation and technology.

This museum serves as a learning center and museum that conveys the legacy of Islamic civilization in Central Asia through architecture that gracefully blends traditional Islamic art with contemporary expression.

The list concludes with the Lost Shtetl Museum in Šeduva, Lithuania, a museum created to commemorate the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe that were lost in the Holocaust. It conveys history, memory, and identity through a design that is simple yet powerful.

Prix Versailles states that the seven museums selected this year share one important quality: “the power to tell stories through architecture,” while connecting people with history, culture, and the future at the same time.

In a world where competition in culture and creative tourism is becoming increasingly intense, this award is no longer merely a recognition of beautiful buildings. It is a declaration that “architecture” has already become a key soft power of the 21st century.

For those who love architecture and enjoy exploring beauty while gaining knowledge along the way—which museum is on the travel list? Or for those who have already visited any of them, share the experience through photos and stories.

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