These global awards celebrate the very best in the world of museums, galleries, and cultural and heritage visitor attractions. The final winners were selected by an independent judging panel. In announcing the festival's win they highlighted that we have made a transformative impact, leading to measurable improvements across the sector - driving footfall, increasing visitor spend and reaching new audiences for whom the festival may be their only heritage visit.
All the judges have known about, participated in, and benefited from Heritage Open Days for years, and so this anniversary was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Heritage Open Days, the National Trust, and all the partners and contributors who make the festival so special. When it was first created it was a great, inspiring and generous idea and it has only grown in size, importance and impact over the years. When something so loved and so well-established becomes part of the heritage landscape it sometimes is in danger of being taken for granted. This award shows that we don't take it for granted but celebrate it, encourage it and thank all those who make it so special.
We are thrilled to have received this recognition for our work supporting the extraordinary festival community across England. Heritage Open Days is a unique grass roots led initiative so this win is for all the local stars who together create such an incredible impact - for everyone who has planned, registered, promoted or helped at an event, thank you, and congratulations! We hope this national recognition will help us to gain further support for all that you all do so that we can help open more doors, hearts and minds to the wonders of our heritage and the power of our stories.
Congratulations to all the other winners, but also to everyone who was shortlisted in the awards. It was particularly wonderful to see so many of the Heritage Open Days community among those recognised!
Find out more
- Museums + Heritage Awards - View the full list of winners and shortlistees.
- Anniversary Gallery - Explore impact stories from across the festival's 30 years.
- Heritage Open Days 2025 preview- Get a taster of what will be on offer this year in our latest press release.
Each year the festival is brought to you by the National Trust, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and delivered by thousands of local organisations and volunteers.