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‘Iconic’, ‘awe-inspiring’, ‘beautiful’ – these are words we often associate with world-leading museums and the masterpieces housed within them. But how about ‘powerful’?
The Telegraph has just revealed a list comparing five of the greatest art hubs around the world in terms of their cultural dominance, and a London institution got the highest score. The top accolade went to the National Gallery, awarded an 8/10 power ranking by the newspaper.
Scores were based on factors including footfall, masterpieces and recent acquisitions, and the Trafalgar Square institution’s plans to build a whole new wing as part of Project Domani have helped boost its rating. You can read more about that expansion project – dubbed the biggest in the gallery’s 200-year history – on Time Out here.
The Telegraph explained further: ‘[The National Gallery] dealt admirably with the challenges of the pandemic, and last year unveiled a refurbished entrance and full rehang before announcing plans for a new wing.’
The groundbreaking £750 million Project Domani is the biggest transformation in its 200-year history, and the hefty sum will go towards a (somewhat controversial) expansion of its collection to include art from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as a roof garden and larger exhibition space.
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) was deemed the world’s second most powerful museum, with a score of 7/10, ahead of the National Museum of Korea, Musei Vaticani and Musée du Louvre, all of which received six points.
The Telegraph isn’t the only publication that recognises the National Gallery’s prowess. It ranked as number four on Time Out’s list of the 25 best museums in London for 2026. Our listing describes the gallery as lined with ‘wall to wall art bangers’, saying: ‘We couldn’t ask for a better National Collection, it has everything from Van Gogh to Caravaggio, and it’s all free. I still to this day get goosebumps when I walk in.’
Time Out’s ultimate guide to the National Gallery.
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