Patna’s Bihar Museum has earned global recognition by securing the ninth position in the list of the World’s 100 Best Museums for 2026, released by travel publishing company Worth a Journey. The museum has surpassed several internationally renowned institutions, including New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which ranked tenth. Bihar Museum is also the only museum from Asia to feature in the top 10, marking a significant achievement for Bihar and India’s cultural heritage.
Opened in 2015, Bihar Museum is one of India’s prominent modern cultural institutions, showcasing the state’s rich history, artistic traditions and archaeological treasures. Its extensive collections include ancient sculptures, coins, manuscripts, archaeological artefacts and traditional folk art, offering visitors an opportunity to explore Bihar’s heritage from prehistoric times to the modern era.
Top 10 Museums in the World – 2026
- Museo Nacional de Antropología – Mexico City, Mexico
- Museo del Prado – Madrid, Spain
- Louisiana Museum of Modern Art – Humlebæk, Denmark
- State Hermitage Museum – St. Petersburg, Russia
- Kunsthistorisches Museum – Vienna, Austria
- Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum – Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
- Museum of the Second World War – Gdańsk, Poland
- The National WWII Museum – New Orleans, USA
- Bihar Museum – Patna, India
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York, USA
Bihar Museum’s inclusion in the global top 10 represents a proud moment for the state and the country. The achievement brings international attention to Bihar’s historical legacy and reinforces India’s growing presence on the global cultural tourism map.
