Houston Airports has world's best art program for third consecutive year

Apr 9, 2025

HOUSTON—For the third year in a row, Houston Airports was awarded World’s Best Art in the Airport by Skytrax. The honor was announced at the 2025 World Airport Awards during the Passenger Terminal Expo in Madrid, Spain. The international award, which began in 2023, recognizes the commitment to incorporating meaningful and inspiring art into the passenger journey. Houston Airports won in 2023 and 2024.From large-scale murals and sculptures to live performances and digital storytelling, the Houston Airports Arts program reshapes how airports can create a sense of place through visual and performing arts.

“At Houston Airports, we don’t just showcase art—we create cultural moments,” said Alton DuLaney, curator of public art for Houston Airports. “Every piece, every performance, every interaction is designed to surprise and resonate with travelers. It’s a reflection of Houston’s artistic spirit—and it’s making waves around the world.”

Since 2019, the Houston Airports civic art collection has grown from 250 to more than 400 works. Between 2024 and 2025, the airport system installed 50 new pieces across terminals—and momentum continues to grow.

"Houston Airports has set a clear standard for how public art can be embedded into the airport environment,” said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. “This recognition is appreciation from passengers for the creativity, vibrancy, and identity that the art program brings to their travel experience and reflects the cultural diversity and creative energy of the city."

Houston’s program stands apart for its commitment to global and local voices. It features international talent alongside regional artists, including a former Houston Poet Laureate and artists-in-residence at IAH and HOU. Initiatives like Harmony in the Air bring live music into the terminals, performed by some of the most talented professional musicians in Houston.

From curated cultural collaborations to spontaneous inspiration, Houston’s airports offer something rare: a genuine connection to the city's creative soul.

2025 WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS The World Airport Awards are the most prestigious accolades for the airport industry, voted by customers in the largest annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. The awards are recognized as the quality benchmark for the world airport industry, assessing customer service and facilities across over 565 airports. The survey and awards are independent of any airport control or input. The 2025 Awards are based on the World Airport Survey questionnaires completed by over 100 nationalities of airport customers during the survey period from August 2024 to February 2025. The survey evaluates the customer experience across all front-line areas of airport service and facilities, from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, and security/immigration through to departure at the gate.

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