Overview
- The Japan Art Association announced the winners in Paris on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and confirmed each laureate will receive a 15 million yen honorarium, a gold medal, and a testimonial letter.
- The five 2026 laureates are Cate Blanchett for theatre and film, Jenny Holzer for painting, Andy Goldsworthy for sculpture, Daniel Libeskind for architecture, and Herbert Blomstedt for music.
- A 5 million yen Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists was awarded to the French group La Source Garouste for its work running art workshops for disadvantaged children.
- A formal awards ceremony is scheduled for October 28, 2026 in Tokyo and will be attended by Her Imperial Highness Princess Hitachi who will receive the laureates in person.
- The association also named Patricia Barbizet and Paolo Gentiloni as incoming international advisors, reinforcing the prize’s long record of honoring major figures in the arts since its 1988 founding.