From volunteers to museum directors, the 2026 New Year Honours List has recognised professionals across the museum, heritage and culture sectors.
Tristram Hunt, who has been the director of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) since 2017, received a knighthood for services to museums, having overseen the institution’s evolution into a multi-site museum group that now includes the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Stoke-on-Trent and the V&A Dundee in Scotland, along with the revamped Young V&A and two new V&A East sites in east London.
In a post on social media, the V&A paid tribute to Hunt’s “bold and thoughtful leadership”, drawn from his background as an historian, author and former parliamentarian.
“At the museum, he has been a driving force behind major initiatives including V&A East, championing new ways to connect collections, creativity and communities,” added the V&A.
The National Trust’s director-general since 2018, Hilary McGrady, received a CBE (Commander of the Order) for her services to heritage.
Rene Olivieri, the chair of the National Trust, described McGrady as “an outstanding leader of our 130-year-old institution, whose relentless focus on bringing the most benefit to the most people through heritage and through nature has ensured the trust is thriving today”.
He said McGrady had “tackled some of the biggest challenges our charity has ever faced with tenacity and empathy and made sure that the trust not only survived – but it flourished”.
National Trust director general Hilary McGrady © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor
Joanne Quinton-Tulloch, director of the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, received an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to arts.
Academic and cultural heritage expert Janet Blake received an OBE for services to intangible cultural heritage and to cultural heritage law.
Dee Dyas, emeritus professor in history, and director of the centre for the study of Christianity and culture at the University of York, received an OBE, for services to theology and to heritage.
The same honour went to writer and curator Ekow Eshun, the former director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, for services to the arts.
A volunteer at the Imperial War Museum since 2006, 101-year-old Bernard Morgan received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to volunteering and to history. Morgan supports the museum through its We Were There programme, which enables visitors to meet real-life veterans and eyewitnesses of war.
The founder of the Restoration Trust, Laura Drysdale, received an MBE for services to heritage and mental health. The Norfolk-based charity uses “culture therapy” to encourage people with mental health difficulties to engage with heritage.
Susan Bowers, the director, preservation and conservation lead at the Pilgrim Trust, received the same honour for services to heritage.
For their services to local heritage, Jocelyn Finnigan, the manager of Homme House, Barry Mead, a trustee of Cresswell Pele Tower and the director at Newbiggin Heritage Partnership, and Frances Gunn, the chair of the Flow Country Partnership, all received MBEs.
David Gurney, the recently retired film laboratory lead at the British Film Institute, was awarded an MBE for his services to cinema and heritage.
Paul Higson, project manager and volunteer for the North East Scotland Preservation Trust, received an MBE for services to the built heritage of Scotland.
Rokia Khair was awarded the honour for services to heritage and to charity, having co-founded the Codnor Castle Heritage Trust in 2013.
The founder of Jewish Heritage UK, Michael Frank Mail received an MBE for services to heritage and to charity, including his work in documenting the Welsh Jewish experience and authoring novels including Scots Jews: Identity, Belonging and the Future.
At the National Records of Scotland, both Alan Borthwick, the head of medieval and private records, and archivist David Brown, archivist, were awarded MBEs for services to historical document recovery.
Annabel Westman, an independent textile historian and director emeritus of the Attingham Trust, was awarded an MBE for services to heritage.
The same honour also went to Brian Buchan, the chair of the finance committee at the Story Museum, for services to charity and community.
David McDonald, the chair of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, received an MBE for services to the historic built environment and charity, while Valerie Birchall, the assistant director for culture, tourism and sport at Hammersmith and Fulham Council, received the same award for services to public libraries and culture.
Alun Clements, a volunteer at the Imperial War Museum, received a BEM (Medallist of the Order of the British Empire) for his voluntary work at the museum.
Leonie Biggenden, a learning volunteer at the Natural History Museum received a BEM for services to heritage.
The Scottish poet and novelist Peter Campbell was awarded a BEM for services to Gaelic and Scottish culture.
Heritage cleaning specialists for the House of Lords and House of Commons respectively, Catherine Collins and Deborah Compton, both received the same honour for services to parliament.
Francis Chamberlain, the director and project coordinator of Brierly Hill High Street Heritage Action Zone, received a BEM for services to heritage and to the community.
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