La Nube STEAM Discovery Center has been named a finalist for the 2025 Children in Museums Award, one of the most prestigious museums awards by The Network of European Museums Organizations. The announcement was made by Hands On! International in partnership with the European Museum Academy, spotlighting La Nube as one of only five museums worldwide to be shortlisted for this year’s award.

La Nube is the only U.S. institution recognized this year and joins past American winners, including Boston Children’s Museum (2015) and Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia (2013).

“This nomination places El Paso on the global map of innovation in children’s learning,” said Gina Martinez, CEO of La Nube. “It’s a powerful validation of what our team, our city, and our families have built together-an inclusive space that celebrates curiosity, creativity, and wonder.”

A Global Celebration of Excellence in Children’s Museums

The Children in Museums Award honors outstanding exhibitions, programs, and experiences that engage children in meaningful, playful, and educational ways. The 2025 shortlist includes:

• Museum of Ethnography - Budapest, Hungary
• Children’s Museum Singapore - Singapore
• OliOli Children’s Museum - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Showtown - Blackpool, United Kingdom
• La Nube STEAM Discovery Center - El Paso, United States

The winner will be announced during the Hands On! International Conference, taking place November 26-28, 2025, in Liverpool, UK.

La Nube: Where Imagination Takes Shape

Since opening in 2024, La Nube has welcomed over 300,000 guests and rapidly become a destination for hands-on, minds-on learning in the El Paso region. With four floors of immersive STEAM exhibits, inclusive design, bilingual experiences, and a mission grounded in access for all, La Nube represents a bold reimagining of what a children’s museum can be.

“This nomination isn’t just about La Nube, it’s about El Paso,” said Mick Martinez, VP of Marketing & Communications. “It’s about showing the world what’s possible when a community invests in its children, and when learning is powered by play, culture, and creativity.”

About the Children in Museums Award

Established in 2011 by the European Museum Academy and Hands On! International, the Children in Museums Award (CMA) recognizes innovation and excellence in museum programming and exhibit design for children up to age 14. It celebrates institutions that foster curiosity, imagination, and inclusive learning through exceptional visitor experiences. In 2024, NEMO - The Network of European Museum Organizations named the CMA one of Europe’s top museum honors.