Museums Market Report 2025

The museums market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $55.14 billion in 2024 to $59.34 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to rising public investment in cultural preservation, increased interest in heritage tourism, a growing number of educational partnerships, urban development expansion around museum locations, and a heightened focus on cultural diplomacy.

The museums market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $78.54 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period is expected to result from increasing demand for immersive visitor experiences, greater integration of digital technologies, museums evolving into major tourist attractions, expanding international collaborations, and a stronger emphasis on inclusive and accessible learning. Key trends forecasted include advancements in virtual and augmented reality, innovations in interactive exhibit design, progress in digital archiving and cataloguing, research and development in audience engagement tools, and the use of artificial intelligence for personalized tours.

The rise in tourism and travel is projected to support the growth of the museum market. Tourism and travel refer to individuals temporarily leaving their everyday environments to explore new locations for leisure, business, or discovery. This upward trend is largely driven by the increased affordability of transportation, with budget airlines and discounted travel packages allowing more people to access a variety of destinations at lower costs. Growth in tourism and travel contributes to the expansion of museums by increasing visitor numbers and revenue, enabling investment in improved exhibitions and facilities. It also brings international recognition, encourages diverse programming, and fosters development through collaborations and government support. For example, in May 2025, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, a Spain-based intergovernmental organization, international tourist arrivals surpassed 300 million in the first quarter of 2025 - an increase of nearly 14 million compared to the same period in 2024. Consequently, the growing tourism and travel sector is fueling the growth of the museum market.

Leading companies in the museum market are prioritizing the development of innovative technologies, such as assistants powered by large-model AI, to enhance visitor engagement and provide personalized educational experiences. These advanced AI systems utilize large-scale models to manage complex interactions and tasks across various applications. For instance, in November 2024, the China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM), a national-level science and technology museum in China, introduced an AI-powered museum assistant designed to enhance visitor experiences and promote educational outreach through advanced interactive tools. This assistant merges general science content with cutting-edge large-model technology to deliver clear and captivating information. It supports on-site navigation, offers exhibit insights, and enriches the visitor journey. Additionally, it facilitates remote learning by answering science-related queries from younger audiences. As adoption increases, these intelligent systems will form an interconnected and adaptable network of museum assistants.

In March 2025, Hexa, a startup studio based in Belgium, acquired a majority stake in Veevart for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition provides Veevart with a strategic growth partner aimed at accelerating revenue and scaling operations. Hexa offers more than financial backing, contributing hands-on support in product development, sales, go-to-market strategies, and executive guidance - positioning itself as an active participant rather than a traditional investor. Veevart is a US-based company that delivers comprehensive Salesforce-based platforms tailored for museums and cultural organizations.

Major players in the museums market are The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Art Institute of Chicago, National Museum of Korea, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, National Gallery London, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Rijksmuseum, Belvedere Museum, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Uffizi Gallery, Louvre Museum, Musée d’Orsay, National Museum of China, State Hermitage Museum, Tokyo National Museum, Vatican Museums, Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts.

North America was the largest region in the museums market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in museums report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the museums market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s recommendations and conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sudden escalation of U.S. tariffs and the consequent trade frictions in spring 2025 are severely impacting the recreation sector, particularly in the supply of imported sports equipment, outdoor gear, and leisure products. Manufacturers and retailers are facing higher costs for items such as bicycles, camping gear, fitness machines, and gaming consoles, much of which are sourced from overseas with limited domestic alternatives. Small businesses operating in the recreational retail space are especially affected, with some reducing inventory or increasing prices to offset margin pressure. Event organizers and recreational facilities are also facing cost hikes for imported equipment and infrastructure materials. In response, the industry is exploring alternative sourcing from tariff-free regions, increasing reliance on local suppliers, and urging policymakers to consider exemptions for non-essential but widely used recreational products.

Museums are institutions that collect, preserve, and display items of cultural, historical, artistic, or scientific significance. They are tasked with maintaining these collections and providing organized information to enhance the understanding of different aspects of heritage and knowledge. By organizing and safeguarding such materials, museums contribute to education and promote awareness of historical events and cultural expressions.

The primary types of museums include art museums, history museums, science museums, children’s museums, natural history museums, specialized museums, and virtual museums. Art museums specifically collect, preserve, and exhibit visual art to educate and inspire the public. Museums generate revenue through various sources such as admission fees, donations and grants, membership fees, merchandising, and more. Governance structures vary and include public, private, corporate, and other forms. Museums cater to diverse visitors, including children, teenagers, adults, seniors, and individuals from primary, secondary, tertiary, and postgraduate educational levels.

The museums market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides museums market statistics, including the museums industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the museums market share, detailed museums market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the museums industry. This museums market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The museums market includes revenues earned by entities through the educational services, exhibition and display services, research and documentation, cultural heritage promotion, and community engagement. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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