WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTS REVEALED: THE JAPAN ART ASSOCIATION UNVEILS THE 37TH ANNUAL PRAEMIUM IMPERIALE LAUREATES

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Sep 08, 2026, 05:00 ET

A global stage awaits as five visionary masters, selected by international experts, prepare to take their place in history at a grand awards ceremony in Tokyo on October 28, 2026

La Source Garouste selected for Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists

NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Japan Art Association announced the recipients of the 37th Praemium Imperiale honoring Cate Blanchett (Theatre/Film, Australia), Jenny Holzer (Painting, USA), Andy Goldsworthy (Sculpture, UK), Daniel Libeskind (Architecture, USA / born in Poland), and Herbert Blomstedt (Music, Sweden / born in USA). Honored for their lifetime achievements, significant contributions to the arts, and international impact, these distinguished artists have profoundly enriched global culture. Each recipient will receive an honorarium of 15 million yen (approx. $95,000 USD), a testimonial letter and a medal. The Awards Ceremony will take place in Tokyo on October 28, 2026, in the presence of Her Imperial Highness Princess Hitachi. His Highness Prince Hitachi serves as Honorary Patron of the Japan Art Association.

"This year's recipients have dedicated their careers to the kind of artistry that shapes culture in ways that remind us of our shared humanity, and I'm so glad to see them recognized," said Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

As the world's most prestigious and largest honor in the arts, the Praemium Imperiale celebrates lifetime achievement across five disciplines: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, and Theatre/Film. Now in its 37th year, the prize serves as a vital champion for the cultural significance of artistic creation on a global scale, conferring international acclaim upon the arts equating to the Nobel Prize.

The 2026 Laureates join a list of 185 artists that includes 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, Robert Rauschenberg, amongst many others.

Beyond recognizing the visionary artists of our time, the Japan Art Association's commitment to the arts further extends to nurturing the next generation of creative talent through its annual grant program. Each year, a grant of 5 million yen (approx. USD 32,000) is awarded to a group or institution that nurtures the development of young talent in the arts. This year, La Source Garouste (France) has been recognized for the achievement. Previous Grant Recipients include National Youth Theatre (2025, UK), Komunitas Salihara Arts Center (2024, Indonesia), Rural Studio (2023, USA), and Harlem School of the Arts (2023, USA).

Today's announcement was made at a press conference in Paris on September 8, presided over by International Advisor Jean-Pierre Raffarin. The Japan Art Association also announced two new Advisors joining the Praemium Imperiale in the coming year: Ms. Patricia Barbizet will succeed Mr. Raffarin as International Advisor for France, and former Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni will succeed Mr. Lamberto Dini as International Advisor for Italy.

For more information, visit praemiumimperiale.org.

About the Japan Art Association

Founded in 1887, the Japan Art Association is the oldest cultural foundation in Japan. It manages the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo's Ueno Park and organizes a wide range of art exhibitions and cultural initiatives. The Association's Honorary Patrons have traditionally been members of the Imperial Household, starting with Prince Arisugawa and, since 1987, Prince Hitachi.

About the Praemium Imperiale

Established in 1988 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Japan Art Association, the Praemium Imperiale honors the legacy of the late Prince Takamatsu, who served as Honorary Patron of the Association for 58 years. Often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of the Arts," the award recognizes individuals or groups whose achievements have had a profound international influence in their respective fields.

Each year, nomination committees chaired by International Advisors submit candidate lists across five disciplines. Current Advisors are: