Malva nominated for the EMYA2026 award
The Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva has been nominated for the European Museum of the Year (EMYA) 2026 award. The prestigious EMYA has been presented annually since 1977 to museums demonstrating outstanding innovation and leadership in the museum field. Another Finnish nominee this year is Leikki – The Museum of Play.
The EMYA award recognises excellence and fresh approaches in public engagement. Eligible nominees are newly opened museums from the last three years or long-standing ones that have boldly reinvented their spaces and ways of working. For 2026, 35 museums have been nominated.
In its evaluation of Malva, which opened in spring 2022, the jury praised the museum as an inspiring example of the transformative power of museums – not only breathing new life into its immediate surroundings but also contributing to the revitalisation of the wider cityscape.
“Malva brings together local and international culture, creating an accessible museum experience for a diverse range of visitors,” says EMYA judge Agnes Aljas.
The EMYA award is presented under the auspices of the Council of Europe and reflects its core values. The winners will be announced on Saturday, 13 June 2026, in Bilbao, which will host the EMYA Annual Conference. The conference brings together museum professionals from across Europe to exchange ideas and promote best practices.
“It’s a great honour to be nominated alongside such an inspiring group of European museums. We are very much looking forward to the conference and award ceremony in June,” says Museum Director Tuulia Tuomi.
The winner for 2026 will be chosen by a seven-member jury appointed by the Board of Trustees of the European Museum Forum (EMF), representing all 46 Council of Europe member states.
Malva was voted by the public as the top new initiative contributing to the revitalisation of Lahti city centre in 2022 (Lahden keskustateko) and received the Etelä-Suomen Sanomat Aukusti Culture Award in 2023. The museum was also recognised by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) as Cultural Achievement of the Year 2023. Additionally, Lahti City Museums – of which Malva is part – was named Finland’s Museum of the Year 2025.
More information
Lahti City Museums’ management and public relations
Photos from the past exhibitions
