V&A: where does the money come from?
The V&A had income of £142m in the year to March 2026, and 42% of it was government grant-in-aid. It welcomed 4,550,600 visitors.
What does the V&A do?
The V&A is a family of museums of art, design and performance, led by V&A South Kensington in London. Founded in 1852 as the Museum of Manufactures, it also runs Young V&A, V&A East and the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Stoke-on-Trent, with V&A Dundee as a partner. A public body and charity, it is funded by government grant-in-aid, with free admission, paid exhibitions, a trading company, membership and donations.
In brief: museum of art and design · family of museums · free entry, paid exhibitions · London, Stoke-on-Trent, Dundee
Source: the V&A's own website, retrieved 27 September 2026.
Where does the V&A's money come from?
Government grant-in-aid brought in £60m, 42% of the total. The rest, £82m, came from what the V&A earns and raises itself: admissions, shops and catering, donations and other income.
- Government grant-in-aid £60m 42%
- Admissions and exhibitions £10m 7%
- Shops, catering and commercial £26m 18%
- Donations and legacies £22m 16%
- Other income £25m 17%
What did the V&A spend, and what is it worth?
| Measure | Mar 2026 | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £142m | £147m |
| Total spending | £137m | |
| Net income before gains | £5m | |
| Staff costs | £58m | |
| Staff | 1,164 | |
| Net assets | £879m | |
| Cash | £6m | |
| Visitors | 4,550,600 | |
| Income per visitor | £31.23 | |
| Grant-in-aid per visitor | £13.16 |
Net income is before investment gains and property revaluations. For a charity it is the surplus kept for the collection and buildings, not a profit paid out.
- Legal form
- Exempt charity (Charities Act 2011) and non-departmental public body sponsored by DCMS; Board of Trustees established by the National Heritage Act 1983
- Sites
- V&A South Kensington, London, Young V&A, Bethnal Green, London, V&A East Storehouse, Here East, London, V&A East Museum, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London (opened April 2026), V&A Wedgwood Collection, Barlaston
- Trading company
- V&A Enterprises Ltd (01955898)
- Latest accounts
- Year to 31 March 2026
V&A: common questions
How much money does the V&A get from the government?
£60m of grant-in-aid in the year to March 2026, 42% of its total income of £142m.
How much does the V&A spend?
£137m in the year to March 2026, of which staff costs were £58m.
How many people visit the V&A?
4,550,600 in the year to March 2026 (Number of visits to the museum, 2025-26: V&A South Kensington 3,349,300, Young V&A 642,300, V&A East Storehouse 559,000 (opened May 2025); 3,956,000 in 2024-25. Excludes V&A Dundee), according to its annual report.
Why isn't the V&A on the Companies House register?
The V&A is exempt charity (Charities Act 2011) and non-departmental public body sponsored by DCMS; Board of Trustees established by the National Heritage Act 1983, so it publishes its accounts in an annual report rather than filing them at Companies House. Its trading company, V&A Enterprises Ltd, does file there.
Spark Intel, “V&A: where does the money come from?”, updated 28 September 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/va-museum/. Figures from V&A's annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2026.
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