Conductor Herbert Blomstedt have been named amongst the 2026 Praemium Imperiale laureates.

Blomstedt, 99, has led many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Staatskapelle Dresden, and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

Other 2026 Praemium Imperiale laureates include Cate Blanchett, Andy Goldsworthy, Jenny Holzer, and Daniel Libeskind.

The Praemium Imperiale is awarded annually by the Japan Art Association under the honorary patronage of Prince Hitachi, recognizing outstanding achievement in the arts. Previous laureates in the Music category include Wynton Marsalis, Yo Yo Ma, Alfred Brendel, András Schiff, and Martha Argerich.