Budapest’s Money Museum Makes History: European Museum Academy Chooses Hungarian Capital for Prestigious Conference
Budapest has just cemented its position as a major cultural destination in Europe, hosting the prestigious European Museum Academy (EMA) annual conference from September 25-27, 2025. The Hungarian Money Museum and Visitor Center served as co-organizer for this significant international event, bringing together museum professionals from 30 countries to the Hungarian capital.
A Record-Breaking Institution Takes Center Stage
The choice of Budapest and the Hungarian Money Museum as conference host wasn’t coincidental. Since opening in March 2022, this remarkable institution has shattered expectations, welcoming over 300,000 visitors and earning the distinction of being Europe’s most visited money museum. These aren’t just impressive numbers – they represent a fundamental shift in how museums can engage with their audiences.
The museum’s flagship exhibition, “The Journey of Money,” alone attracted more than 100,000 visitors in 2024, demonstrating the incredible appetite for innovative cultural experiences. This success story provided the perfect backdrop for international museum professionals to gather and share best practices.
European Museum Academy Recognition
The conference represented a significant milestone for both Budapest’s cultural scene and the Hungarian Money Museum specifically. The 2023 DASA Award winner hosted delegates who could experience firsthand what makes this institution so special, with its 53 spectacular interactive installations serving as a living laboratory for modern museum practices.
During the opening day on September 25th, museum experts and leaders got an up-close look at the award-winning facility, understanding why it has become such a phenomenon in the European museum world.
Prestigious Awards Ceremony Highlights
The conference reached its crescendo with the Heritage in Motion Awards ceremony on September 26th, held at the Hungarian National Bank’s Lámfalussy Conference Hall. This prestigious award recognizes innovative multimedia and audiovisual projects that promote cultural heritage worldwide, with the main prize going to the “Hands Deep – A Journey Into Demoscene” project from Finland.
Additional awards were presented across multiple categories, including New Digital Experiences, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and Heritage Audiovisuals, showcasing the international scope of innovative museum work happening across Europe.
The conference concluded on September 27th with the presentation of three more major awards at the Aranybástya restaurant. The DASA Award went to Salon Stolz in Graz, Austria, while the Luigi Micheletti Award was presented to the Obersalzberg Documentation Center in Germany. The Art Museum Award went to the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, and notably, the Hungarian House of Music received the Audience Choice Award.
Breaking Records Through Innovation
What makes the Hungarian Money Museum’s achievement particularly remarkable is how it has redefined visitor expectations. With over 300 different programs hosted in 2024 alone, the institution has proven that educational content can be both engaging and entertaining. From film screenings and numismatic workshops to robotics sessions and financial quiz competitions, the museum has created a dynamic cultural hub.
The institution’s impact extends far beyond its Budapest location. In 2024, museum educators reached 22,000 students across 160 schools throughout Hungary, while their summer programs at Zánka Erzsébet Camp engaged over 3,000 additional young people in financial literacy education.
Setting New Standards for European Museums
The successful hosting of the EMA conference positions Budapest as a serious player in the international museum community. The fact that professionals from 30 countries chose to gather here speaks volumes about the city’s growing reputation as a center for cultural innovation.
The Hungarian Money Museum’s record-breaking visitor numbers and international recognition demonstrate that when institutions combine accessibility with innovation, they can achieve extraordinary results. The museum’s completely free admission policy, combined with its cutting-edge interactive exhibits, has created a model that other European museums are keen to study and potentially replicate.
A Historic Moment for Budapest Tourism
For visitors to Budapest, witnessing this historic conference period offers a unique perspective on the city’s cultural significance. The Hungarian Money Museum, already Europe’s most visited money museum, has now also proven itself capable of hosting major international events, adding another layer to Budapest’s appeal as a destination for culturally curious travelers.
The convergence of record-breaking visitor numbers, international awards, and prestigious conference hosting marks 2025 as a landmark year for both the Hungarian Money Museum and Budapest’s position in the European cultural landscape. This combination of local success and international recognition creates a compelling story that places the Hungarian capital firmly on the map for serious cultural tourism.
Related attractions
