Museums Market Report 2026

The museums market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $66.51 billion in 2025 to $69.57 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to public funding for cultural preservation, expansion of national and regional museums, growth of educational tourism, increasing emphasis on heritage conservation, adoption of structured exhibition formats.

The museums market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $84.66 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in digital transformation of museums, rising demand for immersive visitor experiences, expansion of virtual museum platforms, growing focus on sustainable museum operations, increasing collaboration with educational institutions. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of digital and virtual exhibits, rising integration of interactive visitor experiences, growing focus on collection preservation technologies, expansion of educational and experiential programming, enhanced use of data analytics for visitor engagement.

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 companies operating 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, and Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts.

North America was the largest region in the museums market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the museums market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the museums market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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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