By Islam El-Sakka
The world's 20 most-visited museums attracted a combined 161.4 million visitors in 2025, a 5.4 percent increase over the previous year, according to the 20th edition of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Global Experience Index released Tuesday.
China Dominates Top Rankings
Beijing's Palace Museum led the list with 19 million visits, followed by the Summer Palace at 17.4 million. Chinese institutions, along with those in Taiwan, occupied 18 of the top 20 positions in the Asia-Pacific region. The Museum of Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Site in Xi'an ranked third with nearly 11 million visits.
Louvre Leads Outside China
The Musée du Louvre in Paris remained the most visited museum outside China with 9 million visits, while the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was the only North American institution in the top 20, recording 5.98 million visits.
US Government Shutdown Hits Washington Museums
Federal museums in Washington, D.C., suffered double-digit attendance declines directly attributed to the 43-day US government shutdown, the report said.
UK Museums Post Strong Gains
In London, the National Gallery grew 29.5 percent following the reopening of its transformed Sainsbury Wing, and the Natural History Museum reached 7.1 million visitors. The British Museum recorded 6.44 million visits.
Korean Culture Boom Drives Growth
The National Museum of Korea in Seoul welcomed approximately 6.5 million visitors, a 68 percent increase linked to rising interest in Korean culture and a successful merchandise program.
TEA Highlights Regional Variations
TEA noted that while China remained the dominant market in Asia-Pacific, European attendance stayed stable at high levels with significant gains in the UK and Russia. North American growth was modest but heavily affected by the US federal shutdown.
