Japan Art Association Announces 37th Praemium Imperiale Laureates
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The Japan Art Association has announced the recipients of the 37th Praemium Imperiale awards, recognizing five global masters in their respective fields. The recipients, who will be honored at a ceremony in Tokyo on October 28, 2026, are Cate Blanchett for Theatre and Film, Jenny Holzer for Painting, Andy Goldsworthy for Sculpture, Daniel Libeskind for Architecture, and Herbert Blomstedt for Music.
Cate Blanchett, a renowned Australian actress, has been selected for her profound impact on both theatre and film. Jenny Holzer, an American conceptual artist, has been recognized for her influential contributions to the world of painting. Andy Goldsworthy, a British sculptor, has been honored for his innovative approach to environmental sculpture. Daniel Libeskind, an architect with roots in Poland and the United States, stands out for his daring and visionary designs. Herbert Blomstedt, a Swedish conductor with international acclaim, is celebrated for his masterful interpretations of classical music.
Each laureate will receive an honorarium of 15 million yen (approximately $95,000 USD), a testimonial letter, and a medal. The awards ceremony will be held in the presence of Her Imperial Highness Princess Hitachi, serving as Honorary Patron of the Japan Art Association.
In addition to the main awards, the Japan Art Association has also announced the recipients of the Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists. This year, the grant has been awarded to La Source Garouste, a French organization dedicated to nurturing young talent. Previous recipients of the grant include the National Youth Theatre (2025, UK), Komunitas Salihara Arts Center (2024, Indonesia), Rural Studio (2023, USA), and Harlem School of the Arts (2023, USA).
The Praemium Imperiale, established in 1988 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Japan Art Association, is considered the most prestigious and largest honor in the arts. It celebrates lifetime achievements across five disciplines: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, and Theatre/Film. The award not only recognizes the artists of today but also supports the development of the next generation of creatives through its annual grant program.
The Japan Art Association's commitment to fostering artistic excellence is further highlighted by the appointment of new International Advisors. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a former Prime Minister of France, will succeed in his role as International Advisor for France, while Paolo Gentiloni, a former Italian Prime Minister, will take over as International Advisor for Italy.
The Praemium Imperiale has a long and illustrious history, with past recipients including Wynton Marsalis, Robert Wilson, Marina Abramović, Vija Celmins, Philip Glass, David Hockney, Doris Salcedo, Yo-Yo Ma, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Olafur Eliasson, Ang Lee, Sylvie Guillem, Shigeru Ban, Martin Scorsese, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Diébédo Francis Kéré, Francis Ford Coppola, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Shirin Neshat, Tom Stoppard, Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, Jean-Luc Godard, Willem de Kooning, Akira Kurosawa, and Robert Rauschenberg, among others.
This year's awards ceremony will serve as a celebration of the artists who have shaped our cultural landscape, reminding us of the power of art to bring people together and celebrate shared humanity.