Prix Versailles, a prestigious international architecture and design award, has released the 12th edition of the “World’s Most Beautiful Museums List“. Of the seven projects named on the list is the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas.
Established in 2015, Prix Versailles celebrates the most beautiful and extraordinary buildings in the world. Presented in collaboration with UNESCO, the award highlights the creativity, art, and narrative power of architecture.
“The World’s Most Beautiful Museums List for 2026 stands out for the quality of its architectural interpretations and staging, elevating the sites with extraordinary narrative power,” said Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, in a press release.
“Together, these museums provide a real illustration of how strength and talent can be revealed through harmony, sensitivity and sharing. Beyond welcoming their visitors, we hope these places will be sources of inspiration for all those who serve the common good of humanity”.
Released this May, the” World’s Most Beautiful Museums List 2026″ features seven museums, from Shenzhen, China, to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Only one U.S. museum features on Prix Versailles’ list: the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington.
The National Medal of Honor Museum opened in March 2025 is a tribute to U.S. Armed Forces distinguished with the highest and most prestigious U.S. military award. Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the museum features striking symbolic architectural feats: The hovering Exhibition Hall features a massive, steel clad box suspended forty feet in the air above the Field of Honor as to embody the immense sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients.
Throughout the exhibition hall are five massive columns, representing the U.S. military branches. A central pieces of the museum is an oculus, representing the U.S. Space Force, where lights pours into the Rotunda of Honor open-air courtyard.
Here’s what Prix Versailles said of the National Medal of Honor Museum:
“The steel-clad Exhibition Hall is a monumental space that reflects the strength of character that is forged in combat. That structure is suspended 12 metres in the air above a landscaped “Field of Honor”, a central, open-air courtyard that serves as both threshold and gathering space. From there, sculptural spiral staircases and fully glazed lifts take visitors to immersive galleries, creating a powerful narrative journey through the lives and legacies of medal recipients”.
Here is the full list of the Prix Versailles “World’s Most Beautiful Museums”:
- Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emigrates
- Science & Technology Museum in Shenzhen, China
- Xuelei Frangrance Museum in Guangzhou, China
- MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives in Tokyo, Japan
- Lost Shteti Museum in Seduva, Lithuania
- National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, United States
- Islamic Civilization Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
The National Medal of Honor Museum is located at 1861 AT&T Way in Arlington. The museum is open from 10 am – 5 pm.
