Inveraray Castle in Scotland has won the 2026 Collections Award

The Scottish castle wins for telling the story of the Argyll women.

Inveraray Castle, the family home of the dukes of Argyll, dates back to the mid-eighteenth century. It has been open to the public since 1953, five days a week from April to October, and is visited by thousands of people every year.

It has won the 2026 Historic Houses Collections Award, sponsored by Dreweatts, for creating a strong connection between its collection and contemporary audiences, using relevant themes and faithful recreations to bring the women of the Argyll family to life for visitors.

The Argyll women brought dowries and cemented alliances, but many also built their own influence in society, in fashion and at court, and some took on the management of the extensive Argyll estates when needed.

The first exhibition, ‘Leading Ladies’, brought together portraits, artefacts and documents with three dresses: two worn by the 12th Duchess, and one made by her for her young granddaughter, Lady Charlotte.

The display has since grown to include the recreation of two gowns from portraits hanging in the castle. They are being handsewn by a historic seamstress, who discusses the designs, textiles, construction and techniques with visitors. Once complete, they will be displayed beside the portraits. The same approach is being extended to the wider collections that connect to other women of the family.

The Collections Award was introduced in 2022 to honour the owners, curators, and conservators who preserve, restore, and interpret the beautiful and significant objects on show inside historic houses, enabling the public to understand and enjoy them and the stories that they tell.

Inveraray Castle took the top spot within a competitive shortlist, including Harewood House in Yorkshire and Penshurst Place in Kent. All three were featured in social media videos from one of this year’s judges, historian and broadcaster Alice Loxton.

Alison Diamond, Archivist for Argyll Estates Archives at Inveraray Castle, said: “We are delighted that Inveraray has won this award. What has meant most to us is seeing visitors stop, ask questions and really engage with these women and their stories, whether that is watching the gowns being sewn or standing in front of the portraits. It is a credit to everyone here, and we thank the judges, Historic Houses and Dreweatts.”

Will Richards, Chairman of Dreweatts, said: “We are delighted to be giving this year’s award to Inveraray Castle. Their approach to collection interpretation offers a fresh and engaging perspective on this important historic collection, exploring themes that resonate with visitors today, while remaining firmly rooted in its historical context. Through thoughtful interpretation and an engaging visitor interaction that brings the exhibition alive, Inveraray Castle has brought its collection to a new generation.”

Watch the Collections Award winner video below.