The Polar Music Prize is a Swedish international music award founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, the manager of ABBA. It awards 1 million Swedish krona (approximately $93,900 USD) to each laureate at a ceremony in Stockholm. The prize is best suited for established musicians with significant career achievements, as it recognizes lifetime contribution rather than single releases. The 2025 laureates were Queen, Herbie Hancock, and Barbara Hannigan. The prize is on hold for 2026 and will not be awarded this year.
Submission and Eligibility Details
Stig Anderson donated 42 million Swedish krona in 1989 to create what he intended as the world's biggest music prize. Key details about the selection process:
- Nominations come from international music industry organizations including the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance
- There are no nationality restrictions
- The prize committee includes musicians, music industry members, and representatives of Anderson's family
- The committee is overseen by the Stig Anderson Music Award Foundation, which includes representatives of SKAP and STIM
- There is no public application or self-nomination process
- The prize is typically awarded to one contemporary musician and one classical musician per year, though exceptions have been made (2025 had three laureates)
The 2025 ceremony took place on May 27, 2025 at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, broadcast live on TV4 in Sweden. Queen received the prize for their contributions to contemporary music. Herbie Hancock was honored for his work spanning jazz, funk, soul, and R&B. Barbara Hannigan, a Canadian soprano and conductor, received the classical music prize. Hannigan became Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in 2026.
The prize is on hold for 2026. CEO Marie Ledin stepped down, and no laureates will be announced this year.
Past laureates include Paul McCartney (1992, the first contemporary laureate), Dizzy Gillespie (1993), Bruce Springsteen (1997), Ray Charles (1998), Bob Dylan (2000), Led Zeppelin (2006), Sting (2007), Bjork (2010), Chuck Berry (2014), and Metallica (2018). Classical laureates include Mstislav Rostropovich, Isaac Stern, Renata Tebaldi, Pierre Boulez (1996), Renee Fleming (2008), and Arvo Part (2023).
Key Benefits for Artists
- Substantial cash award: The 1 million SEK prize (approximately $93,900 USD) is unrestricted and significant. It exceeds the Pulitzer Prize's $15,000 and the Choice Music Prize's 10,000 EUR.
- No genre restriction: The prize does not require a specific album, song, or genre. It recognizes overall contribution to music.
- Nobel-level prestige: The prize is often called the "Nobel Prize of Music." King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presents the awards. The ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall provides global media exposure.
- Dual categories: The contemporary and classical categories demonstrate that both popular and art music receive equal recognition.
- International scope: There are no nationality restrictions. Laureates have come from the US, UK, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, and other countries.
Potential Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Not applicable to independent artists: The prize is not something independent artists can apply for. It is awarded to established figures with decades of achievement.
- On hold for 2026: The prize will not be awarded in 2026 due to organizational changes. The CEO stepped down, creating uncertainty about the prize's future schedule.
- Invitation-only ceremony: The ceremony is not a platform for emerging artists. It is an invitation-only event at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm.
- Split prize: The 1 million SEK award, while significant, is split if multiple laureates share a category. The 2025 edition had three laureates.
- Lifetime achievement focus: The prize recognizes lifetime achievement, not new releases or current projects. It does not help promote recent work.
- Stockholm location: The ceremony location limits accessibility for artists based outside Scandinavia.
- No self-nomination: Nominations come from international music industry organizations. Independent artists cannot put themselves forward.
Polar Music Prize Laureates by Year
The following table lists laureates from recent ceremonies along with their category. The prize is typically awarded to one contemporary musician and one classical musician per year, though exceptions have been made (2025 had three laureates).
| Year | Contemporary Laureate | Classical Laureate |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Queen, Herbie Hancock | Barbara Hannigan |
| 2023 | Wayne Shorter, Sven Helbig | Arvo Part |
| 2022 | Sting | (not awarded) |
| 2019 | (not awarded) | (not awarded) |
| 2018 | Metallica | (not awarded) |
| 2017 | (not awarded) | Wayne Marshall |
| 2016 | (not awarded) | (not awarded) |
| 2015 | (not awarded) | Evelyn Glennie |
| 2014 | Chuck Berry | Peter Sellars |
| 2012 | (not awarded) | (not awarded) |
| 2010 | Bjork | (not awarded) |
| 2007 | Sting | (not awarded) |
| 2006 | Led Zeppelin | (not awarded) |
| 2000 | Bob Dylan | (not awarded) |
| 1998 | Ray Charles | (not awarded) |
| 1997 | Bruce Springsteen | (not awarded) |
| 1992 | Paul McCartney | (not awarded) |
Paul McCartney was the first contemporary laureate in 1992. The prize has been awarded to artists spanning rock, jazz, pop, classical, and experimental music. Notable past laureates also include Dizzy Gillespie (1993), Pierre Boulez (1996), Renee Fleming (2008), and Wayne Shorter (2023). The prize is on hold for 2026 and will not be awarded this year due to organizational changes following the departure of CEO Marie Ledin.
2025 Polar Music Prize Ceremony Highlights
The 2025 Polar Music Prize ceremony took place on May 27, 2025, at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, hosted by mezzo-soprano and journalist Boel Adler. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presented the awards to all three laureates. The ceremony was broadcast live on TV4 Play and on the Polar Music Prize YouTube channel at 18:00 CET, with the banquet broadcast on TV4 at 20:00 CET.
Queen was honored for their contributions to contemporary music. Brian May and Roger Taylor accepted the prize on behalf of the band. Adam Lambert, who has fronted Queen on tour since 2012, performed "Who Wants to Live Forever" at the ceremony and "Another One Bites the Dust" at the banquet. The Swedish band Ghost, fresh off their number one Billboard 200 album Skeleta, performed "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Opeth guitarist Fredrik Akesson and the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir.
Herbie Hancock was honored for his work spanning jazz, funk, soul, and R&B. Esperanza Spalding and Robert Glasper performed Hancock's "Trust Me" and "Watermelon Man" in tribute. Spalding also performed "Both Sides Now" with pianist Leo Genovese.
Barbara Hannigan received the classical music prize. The Canadian soprano and conductor was recognized for her contributions to contemporary art music, including her Grammy-winning album Crazy Girl Crazy. French pianist Bertrand Chamayou gave a surprise performance of "Stars" (from Pentagram No.3 by Dane Rudhyar) and "Trois Beaux Oiseaux De Paradis" (Ravel) with a moving speech dedicated to Hannigan. Hannigan became Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in 2026.
The full ceremony is available on the Polar Music Prize YouTube channel.
Related Resources
- Best Books Every Musician Should Read - Learn from the careers of legendary musicians like Queen and Herbie Hancock
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - How lifetime achievement fits into career planning
- Music Awards Directory - Browse all music awards in our directory
- Official website: polarmusicprize.org
