CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Museum of Natural History isn’t the only institution vying for national attention this winter. While the museum celebrates its nomination in USA TODAY’s 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, several other newcomers across the country are also competing for the title of Best New Museum — and they offer a fascinating cross-section of America’s evolving cultural landscape.

The annual awards highlight standout museums that opened or underwent major transformations in the past two years, with voting open once per day through Monday, Dec. 22.

This year’s slate of nominees ranges from institutions rooted in social history to those exploring niche culinary traditions or honoring military heroism. Among them:

National Public Housing Museum , Chicago, Illinois — A

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