Official Statistics

Community and Engagement Survey 2025/26 - museums and galleries: report

Updated 14 August 2026

Applies to England

This report summarises the key findings for the museums or galleries sector in the Community and Engagement Survey (CES) for 2025/26.^{[footnote 1]} Reports for other sections within the CES are available on the annual web page.

The CES asked about physical and digital engagement with museums or galleries in the 12 months prior to completing the survey. For physical engagement this includes visits to museums or galleries. For digital engagement activities included taking a virtual tour of a museum or gallery or researching items from a collection online. The full list of included museum or galleries activities and events we asked about in the CES are in Annex A.

The CES is representative of people aged 16 and over in England. For simplicity, we will sometimes refer just to “people” in our reporting.

For information on how to use and interpret these statistics see the note available on the supplementary documents page.^{[footnote 2]}

1. Key findings

1.1 Headline

45% of people aged 16+ engaged with museums or galleries at least once in the last 12 months, no significant difference from 2024/25 (45%).

42% of people aged 16+ engaged with museums or galleries physically at least once in the last 12 months, no significant difference from 2024/25 (41%).

By local authority, there was a 50 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who physically engaged with museums or galleries, from 75% in the City of London to 25% in Blackburn with Darwen.

15% of people aged 16+ engaged with museums or galleries digitally at least once in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (14%).

By local authority, there was a 21 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who digitally engaged with museums or galleries, from 29% in Southwark to 9% in Havant.

1.2 Physical and digital engagement

As shown in Figure 1, of the 45% of people who engaged with museums or galleries, 12% engaged both physically and digitally, while 30% of people engaged exclusively physically, and only 3% of people engaged exclusively digitally.

Figure 1: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1.3 Timeseries

As shown in Figure 2, overall engagement with museums or galleries rose from 2021/22 (27%) to 2023/24 (46%) where it peaked and has since stabilised in 2024/25 at 45%. 

Breaking this down by physical and digital engagement over time, physical engagement with museums or galleries peaked in 2023/24 (43%) and stabilised in 2024/25 at 41%. Digital engagement with museums and galleries has increased since 2021/22 from 9% to its peak in 2025/26 of 15%, a 6 percentage point increase since the survey began, and represents a steady trend of increasing engagement with museums and galleries digitally.

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 2: Engagement with the museums or galleries sector England: 2021/22 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1.4 Frequency of engagement

As shown in Figure 3, respondents who engaged with museums or galleries were asked about the frequency of their engagement with each event or activity. The most frequent level of visiting a museum or gallery was less often than once a month but at least three or four times a year (32%) and twice in the last 12 months (31%). The most frequent level of digital engagement with museums or galleries was less often than once a month but at least three or four times a year (32%). 

Figure 3: Most frequent level of physical and digital engagement with museums or galleries, England: 2025/26 (Base: people aged 16 and over)

1.5 Forms of physical engagement

As shown in Figure 4, the most popular reason for visiting museums or galleries was general interest in the subject of the museum or collection (66%). This was followed by people wanting to spend time with family or friends (52%) and to learn something new (37%). 

Figure 4: Reasons for visiting museums or galleries, England: 2025/26 (Base: Adults who physically engaged with museums or galleries)

Of those respondents who had visited a museum or gallery, 41% paid a one-time fee, whilst 7% had paid a fee as part of a monthly or annual subscription. 50% of respondents did not pay a fee when they visited a museum or gallery. 

1.6 Forms of digital engagement

As shown in Figure 5, the most popular way to engage with the museums or galleries digitally was engaging with multimedia content from museums or galleries in England (8%) and researching items from a museum or gallery collection in England online (7%). 

Figure 5: Forms of digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1.7 Barriers to engagement

As shown in Figure 6, respondents who stated they had not engaged with museums or galleries were asked to select the reasons for not engaging both physically or digitally. For physical engagement, “No reason in particular” (32%) and “I’m not interested” (27%) were the most common barriers identified. 

For digital engagement, “I’m not interested” (34%) and “No reason in particular” (34%) were the most common barriers identified. 

Figure 6: Barriers to physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector by reason, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2. Demographics: Who engaged with museums or galleries

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent.

2.1 Age

As shown in Figure 7, compared with the average for people in England (42%), people aged 30 to 34 (44%), 35 to 39 (47%), 40 to 44 (48%), 45 to 49 (46%), 50 to 54 (43%), 60 to 64 (45%), 65 to 69 (46%), and 70 to 74 (45%) were more likely to physically engage with museums or galleries. People aged 16 to 19 (32%), 20 to 24 (36%), 75 to 79 (40%), 80 to 84 (31%), and 85 and over (20%) were less likely to physically engage with museums or galleries.

As shown in Figure 7, compared with the average for people in England (15%) people aged 16 to 19 (20%), 20 to 24 (19%), 25 to 29 (19%), 30 to 34 (17%), 35 to 39 (17%), 40 to 44 (16%), and 45 to 49 (16%) were more likely to digitally engage with museums or galleries. People aged 55 to 59 (13%), 60 to 64 (14%), 65 to 69 (13%), 70 to 74 (13%), 75 to 79 (11%), 80 to 84 (9%), and 85 or over (7%) were less likely to digitally engage with museums or galleries. 

Figure 7: Physical engagement with museums or galleries sector, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.2 Disability status

As shown in Figure 8, disabled people (38%) were less likely to physically engage with the museums or galleries compared to non-disabled people (45%). 

As shown in Figure 8, non-disabled people (16%) were more likely to use museum services digitally or online than disabled people (15%). 

Figure 8: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.3 Sex^{[footnote 3]}

As shown in Figure 9, females (44%) were more likely to physically engage with museums or galleries than males (41%). 

As shown in Figure 9, males (16%) were more likely to use museum services digitally or online than females (15%).

Figure 9: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.4 Gender identity^{[footnote 4]}

As shown in Figure 10, people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (54%) were more likely to physically engage with museums or galleries than people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (42%). 

As shown in Figure 10, people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (29%) were more likely to digitally engage with museums or galleries than people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (15%). 

Figure 10: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.5 Sexual orientation^{[footnote 5]}

As shown in Figure 11, people from the “Other sexual orientation” classification (46%), gay or lesbian people (54%), and bisexual people (58%) were more likely to physically engage with museums or galleries than heterosexual or straight people (42%). 

As shown in Figure 11, gay or lesbian people (23%), bisexual people (28%), and people from the “Other sexual orientation” classification (33%) were more likely to use museum services digitally or online than heterosexual or straight people (15%). 

Figure 11: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.6 Religion

As shown in Figure 12, compared with the average for people in England (42%), people who reported having no religion (44%), people from the Any other religion classification (52%), Jewish people (53%), and Buddhist people (57%) were more likely to physically engage with museums or galleries. Sikh people (29%) and Muslim people (31%) were less likely to engage physically with museums or galleries. 

As shown in Figure 12, compared with the average for people in England (15%), Muslim people (22%), Hindu people (23%), people from the Any other religion classification (23%), Jewish people (25%), and Buddhist people (33%) were more likely to digitally engage with museums or galleries. Christian people (14%) were less likely to digitally engage with museums or galleries. 

Figure 12: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.7 Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 13, compared with the average for people in England (42%), people from White Irish (51%), Any other Asian background (51%), White and Asian (52%), Any other White background (59%), Any other mixed or multiple ethnic background (61%), Chinese (62%), and Any other ethnic group (62%) ethnic groups were more likely to physically engage with museums or galleries. People from Pakistani (26%), White Gypsy or Irish Traveller (27%), Bangladeshi (30%), Black African (32%), Black Caribbean (34%), White and Black Caribbean (36%), and Indian (39%) ethnic groups were less likely to physically engage with museums or galleries. 

As shown in Figure 13, compared with the average for people in England (15%), people from Pakistani (19%), Bangladeshi (20%), White and Black Caribbean (20%), Indian (21%), Irish (23%), Any other White background (23%), Black African (24%), Any other ethnic group (24%), Any other mixed or multiple ethnic background (24%), White and Asian (24%), Any other Asian background (26%), White and Black African (27%), Arab (30%), Chinese (31%), and White Gypsy or Irish Traveller (45%) ethnic groups were more likely to use museum services digitally or online. People from the White British^{[footnote 6]} (13%) ethnic groups were less likely to use museum services digitally or online. 

Figure 13: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.8 Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]}

As shown in Figure 14, people from higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations (53%) were more likely to physically engage with museums or galleries than people from intermediate occupations (41%), routine and manual occupations (32%), and never worked and long-term unemployed (27%) classifications.

As shown in Figure 14, people from higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations (18%) were more likely to digitally engage with museums or galleries than people from never worked and long-term unemployed classifications (16%), intermediate occupations (13%), and routine and manual occupations (12%).

Figure 14: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.9 Index of multiple deprivation^{[footnote 8]}

As shown in Figure 15, people from the most deprived areas (1st decile, 31%) were less likely to physically engage with museums or galleries compared to people from the least deprived areas (10th decile, 50%). There were no significant differences observed between the proportion of people from the least deprived (10th decile, 15%) and most deprived (1st decile, 15%) areas who digitally engaged with museums or galleries.

Figure 15: Physical and digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector, by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

3. Physical engagement with museums or galleries by ITL1 and local authority area

3.1 Regional differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 16, compared with the average for people in England (42%), people living in the South East ITL1 area (43%) and London ITL1 area (53%) were more likely to engage physically with museums or galleries. People living in the West Midlands (34%), East Midlands (36%), North East (39%), North West (40%), and Yorkshire and The Humber (40%) ITL1 areas were less likely to engage physically with museums or galleries. 

3.2 Local authority differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 50 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who physically engaged with museums or galleries, from 75% in the City of London to 25% in Blackburn with Darwen.

The proportion of people who physically engaged with museums or galleries was in line with the England average in 132 (45%) local authorities, above the England average in 63 (21%) local authorities, and below the England average in 100 (34%) local authorities.

Figure 16: Physical engagement with the museums or galleries sector by ITL1 and LA area, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

4. Digital engagement with museums or galleries by ITL1 and local authority area

4.1 Regional differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 17, compared with the average for people in England (15%), people living in the London (22%) ITL1 area were more likely to use museums or galleries digitally. People living in the North East (12%), East Midlands (13%), East of England (14%), North West (14%), South West (14%), West Midlands (14%), and Yorkshire and The Humber (14%) ITL1 areas were less likely to engage with museums or galleries digitally. 

4.2 Local authority differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 21 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who digitally engaged with museums or galleries, from 29% in Southwark to 9% in Havant.

The proportion of people who engaged with museum services digitally or online was in line with the England average in 187 (63%) local authorities, above the England average in 39 (13%) local authorities, and below the England average in 69 (23%) local authorities.

Figure 17: Digital engagement with the museums or galleries sector by ITL1 and LA area, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

5. Annex A

5.1 Physical engagement:

Respondents were asked if they had visited a museum or gallery in person in England in the last 12 months. 

5.2 Digital engagement:

Respondents were asked which of these virtual or online activities they had done (not including paid work, school or college or structured academic activities): 

• taken a virtual tour of a museum or gallery in England
• researched items from a museum or gallery collection in England online
• engaged with text, image, audio, video, or animation, games, or podcast content from museums in England

1. The headline physical and digital museum and galleries engagement estimates are based on data collection from April 2025 to March 2026 through the Participation Survey (April to September 2025) and the Community and Engagement Survey (October 2025 - March 2026). However the sample size is considerably larger for the latter 6 months through the Community and Engagement Survey and therefore the estimates are biased towards responses collected from October 2025 to March 2026. ↩

2. The majority of estimates in this report are rounded to the nearest whole number. As data are rounded, some changes may appear bigger or smaller than they are. The unrounded numbers are available in the corresponding data tables. ↩

3. This data is based on the respondent’s sex. The Community and Engagement Survey respondents were asked the question “What is your sex?”. The response options were ‘Male’, ‘Female’ and ‘Prefer not to Say’. This closely follows the ONS Census 2021 question for sex, where the target concept was certificated sex meaning a person’s sex at birth or as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), but has been slightly amended to include a ‘Prefer not to Say’ option as we do for all demographic questions in the Community and Engagement Survey. ↩

4. This data is based on the respondent’s gender identity. The Community and Engagement Survey respondents were asked the question ‘Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?. The response options were ‘Yes’, ‘No, type in gender identity’ or ‘Prefer not to say’. This closely follows the ONS Census 2021 question for England and Wales, but has been slightly amended to include a ‘Prefer not to Say’ option as we do for all demographic questions in the Community and Engagement Survey. It should be noted that in the Census 2021 data for England and Wales, patterns were identified that suggest that some respondents may not have interpreted the question as intended, notably those with lower levels of English language proficiency. Analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022, where the gender identity question was different, has added weight to this observation. More information can be found in the ONS sexual orientation and gender identity quality information report and the additional guidance and quality information for users of gender identity estimates from Census 2021 in England and Wales. Similar respondent error may have occurred during the data collection for these statistics so comparisons between subnational and other smaller group breakdowns should be considered with caution. ↩

5. Sexual orientation is an umbrella term covering sexual identity, attraction, and behaviour. For an individual respondent, these may not be the same. For example, someone in an opposite-sex relationship may also experience same-sex attraction, and vice versa. This means the statistics should be interpreted purely as showing how people responded to the question, rather than being about whom they are attracted to or their actual relationships. ↩

6. The White British ethnic group includes people from an English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British ethnic group. ↩

7. This is a form of socio-economic classification based on the employment status and occupation of the respondent. ↩

8. The Index of Multiple Deprivation is a geographical measure which classifies the relative deprivation of an area. It combines seven indices to produce one overall measure for the area (rather than the individual). It takes into account income, employment, education, skills and training, health and disability, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment. For this commentary, the most and least deprived deciles have been compared. There may be some other significant differences between deciles in between which have not been commented on here. The analysis of the index of Multiple Deprivation was conducted using the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. ↩

9. Data are also available by ITL2 area level and combined authority level in the corresponding data tables. ↩ ↩²

10. The 2025/26 Community and Engagement Survey includes over 175,000 responses, so confidence intervals are generally very narrow. Whilst this reflects a strength of the data, when highlighting differences, some local authorities may be shown to be above/below the England average, but are only a percentage point more or less than the average. There will be other local authorities who are much higher or lower than the England average, but will both be shown in the same shading within the map. ↩ ↩²