HOUSTON, TX (FEB. 18, 2026) — Space Center Houston has been ranked No. 6 as the Best Science Museum in the nation in the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.
The official announcement was made on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at noon EST, with results published on the USA TODAY 10BEST website and shared across the USA TODAY Network.
Nominated by a panel of industry experts and USA TODAY 10BEST editors before public voting, Space Center Houston ranked among the nation’s top 10 science museums for its engaging exhibits, immersive experiences and programming, making it a premier destination center.
“This recognition reflects the passion of our crewmembers, the innovation behind our exhibits and programming, and the incredible support from our guests,” said William Harris, president and CEO of Space Center Houston. “Being named among the nation’s top science museums is a true honor, and we’re grateful to everyone who voted for us.”
The 2026 Top 10 Best Science Museums are ranked as follows:
- Center of Science and Industry (COSI)
- The Wild Center
- Kamin Science Center
- Michigan Science Center
- Saint Louis Science Center
- Space Center Houston
- The Franklin Institute
- The Mutter Museum
- Moonshot Museum
- Discovery World
As the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston welcomes 1.3 million visitors each year, showcasing more than 400 space artifacts and offering immersive experiences, including the American premiere of The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks and hands-on exhibits such as Mission: Sketch, designed for young space explorers, and the upcoming Moon 2 Mars Festival presented by Wellby Financial, March 11-14.
For more information and to view the full list of winners, visit: https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-science-museum/
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About Space Center Houston
Space Center Houston’s shared purpose is to bring people and space closer together. Over 1.3 million visitors and more than 250,000 students and educators visit each year to connect with the significance of space exploration to pursue a path in STEM or follow along as incredible feats of human spaceflight continue to make new discoveries. Space Center Houston is owned by the Manned Space Flight Education 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and generates an annual $185.5M economic impact to the Greater Houston area. Space Center Houston is the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, a Certified Autism Center, and is recognized by USA TODAY as a 10Best Science Museum. Learn more at spacecenter.org
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