KUCHING: Sarawak’s pride, the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM), has officially claimed the No. 1 spot on the global Museum World Ranking, surpassing the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris through online voting.
As of 1.30pm today, the Borneo Cultures Museum recorded 4,245 votes, overtaking the Louvre’s 4,027 votes, based on the latest data from the Museum World Ranking website.
The impressive rise places BCM above some of the world’s most prestigious museums. Completing the top 10 list are the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico (4,008 votes), National Palace Museum in Chinese Taipei (3,993 votes), Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain (3,917 votes), Getty Centre in the United States (3,713 votes), Art Institute of Chicago (3,435 votes), Houston Museum of Natural Science (3,003 votes), Le Gallerie degli Uffizi in Italy (2,605 votes), and Royal Ontario Museum in Canada (2,352 votes).
This milestone marks another historic achievement for Sarawak and Malaysia, positioning the state’s cultural landmark as a global attraction. BCM, which opened in March 2022, is the largest museum in Malaysia and the second largest in Southeast Asia.
The five-storey architectural marvel highlights Sarawak’s diverse ethnic heritage, offering interactive exhibitions that blend history, art, and technology. Its thematic galleries celebrate the state’s cultural legacy, drawing widespread interest from local and international audiences alike.
According to Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, BCM has welcomed over 1.35 million visitors from more than 150 countries as of mid-2025.
BCM first made its appearance on the Museum World Ranking this year, placing 305th out of 413 museums worldwide. In a Facebook post on October 22, the museum expressed gratitude for being among only three Malaysian museums listed—alongside the National Museum and the National Textile Museum in Kuala Lumpur—and encouraged the public to continue voting online.
With this latest global recognition, BCM’s success underscores Sarawak’s growing influence in the international cultural tourism scene.
