SWANSEA: Dylan Thomas museum shortlisted for national award for third year running
A Swansea museum dedicated to Dylan Thomas has been shortlisted for a national award for the third year running.
The Dylan Thomas Exhibition, at the Dylan Thomas Centre in the city’s Maritime Quarter, is again in the running for Best Small Museum at the Kids in Museums Awards.
The exhibition made the same shortlist in both 2024 and 2025, and its place among the 2026 finalists marks a third consecutive nomination.
The recognition centres on the centre’s ‘Love the Words’ exhibition and its family-focused programme, which aims to bring the poet’s work to life for younger visitors.
Run by Swansea Council, the centre celebrates the life and legacy of one of Wales’ best-known literary figures.
Cllr Elliott King, the council’s cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, welcomed the shortlisting as a proud moment for the team.
He said Thomas’ imaginative use of language continued to inspire, and that staff were passionate about sharing that creativity with children and families.
King also thanked the charity Kids in Museums, and the families who had put the centre forward for the award.
The exhibition uses interactive displays, multimedia features and original artefacts to explore Thomas’ life, his ties to Swansea, and his worldwide influence.
A children’s trail and a programme of hands-on activities are designed to make the visit accessible for all ages.
Judges praised the centre’s inclusive approach and its community partnerships, singling out its work to support families through the cost-of-living squeeze.
Visitors quoted by the council described the centre as welcoming and creative, praising its calm, sensory-friendly space and opportunities for imaginative play.
The ‘Love the Words’ exhibition opened in October 2014, on what would have been Thomas’ 100th birthday, backed by £935,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It tells the story of the poet’s life from his birth in Swansea in 1914 to his death in New York in 1953, and remains free to enter.
The Dylan Thomas Centre is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 4.30pm.
The Kids in Museums Awards are organised by the charity of the same name, with the winners due to be announced in October.
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