Japan Art Association Announces the 2026 Praemium Imperiale Prize Recipients
Jenny Holzer and Andy Goldsworthy are two of the five recipients of the 2026 Praemium Imperiale, the Japan Art Association’s prestigious international arts award.

Jenny Holzer, All Fall, 2012. Photo: : Joshua White/JW Pictures, courtesy Jenny Holzer member Artists Rights Society (ARS)
Jenny Holzer and Andy Goldsworthy are among the five laureates of the 2026 Praemium Imperiale, the award from the Japan Art Association.
Awarded annually since 1989, the prize was created in memory of Prince Takamatsu, member of the imperial family and fervent patron of the arts. Covering art forms ranging from painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre and film, the prize has become one of the world's most significant international cultural honours, with each laureate receiving ¥15 million. Previous laureates include David Hockney, Frank Gehry, Akira Kurosawa and Marina Abramović.
Awarded in the painting category, Holzer is a US-based conceptual artist exploring the use of text in public spaces. Using LED signs, projections and monumental public installations, her work brings terse, politically charged statements into viewers’ daily life that confront questions of power and violence.
English sculptor Goldsworthy is recognised for creating site-specific installations that engage with their environment. Using natural materials such as clay, stone and ice, his pieces reflect on our connection to nature and the passing of time.
They join architect Daniel Libeskind, conductor Herbert Blomstedt and actor Cate Blanchett as this year’s laureates.
Related content
Paris Photo Looks to Younger Collectors in Its Bicentenary Edition
British Library Announces New CEO
A New Hope for George Lucas’s $1 Billion Museum
News

Paris Photo Looks to Younger Collectors in Its Bicentenary Edition
As the fair marks 200 years of photography, its programme spans historical work, environmental concerns and AI-generated images

British Library Announces New CEO
The recently departed head of the UK Space Agency has been announced as the British Library’s new chief executive, as the institution emerges from a turbulent period and announces a new partnership with Netflix

A New Hope for George Lucas’s $1 Billion Museum
Far more than a home for Star Wars, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson’s new Los Angeles museum brings fine art, comics, illustration, photography and cinema together under the banner of ‘narrative art’

Powerhouse Parramatta Opens as Governance Questions Linger
The $915 million museum will open in November with a major festival and five inaugural exhibitions, as investigations into governance and procurement continue
-1.jpg%3F2026-09-17T16%3A44%3A23.891Z&w=3840&q=100)
Swedish Centre-Left Bloc Secures Slim Majority
Following a tight election, Sweden’s opposition bloc has secured a narrow victory over the outgoing right-wing bloc. What could it mean for the cultural sector?

Washington DC’s Kennedy Center Risks Fiscal Collapse
Internal documents obtained by The Washington Post warn that the Kennedy Center faces “fiscal collapse” within weeks, after ticket sales and fundraising plunged amid upheaval following Donald Trump’s takeover

Hungarian Government Scraps New National Gallery
The Hungarian government's decision to cancel construction of the New National Gallery has ended a major European cultural initiative, raising questions over its future
-1.jpg%3F2026-09-10T15%3A33%3A24.143Z&w=3840&q=100)
Qatar Museums to Build Dedicated Pavilion to Gerhard Richter
Qatar Museums will begin the creation of the Doha Pavilion, a new permanent structure to display the works of German artist Gerhard Richter

Lucien Smith, Art-Market Star of the 2010s, Dies at 37
American artist Lucien Smith, who rose rapidly to prominence in the 2010s and became a fixture of New York’s downtown art scene, has died aged 37

Fundación Banco Santander Opens its Cultural Centre
The Faro Santander Museum opened its doors this week on the northern coast of Spain

Geles Cabrera, Pioneering Mexican Sculptor, Dies Age 100
The sculptor Geles Cabrera, best known for being Mexico’s first professional female sculptor, has passed away age 100
_Teapot%2520and%2520Scrolls%2520(During%2520Trip%2520to%2520Mokpo)-1.jpg%3F2026-09-07T16%3A17%3A01.824Z&w=3840&q=100)
Gwangju Biennale Opens Without China’s Pavilion
Amidst a diplomatic storm over Taiwan, the Gwangju Biennale returns with a sprawling 16th edition of contemporary art
