The Japan Art Association has named pianist Sir András Schiff as the 2025 laureate in the Music category of the Praemium Imperiale, one of the most prestigious international prizes in the arts. The awards ceremony will take place on 22 October in Tokyo, under the honorary patronage of His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, younger brother of the Emperor Emeritus of Japan.
Each recipient of the Praemium Imperiale receives an honorarium of 15 million yen (approximately €87,000). The prize recognizes lifetime achievement in the fields of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, and Theatre/Film.
Schiff, born in Budapest in 1953, is regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation, known especially for his interpretations of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Bartók. After studying at the Franz Liszt Academy and later in London, he built an international career that combines solo recitals, concerto performances, and chamber music. In 1999, he founded Cappella Andrea Barca, a chamber orchestra with which he frequently appears as soloist and director from the keyboard.
His discography spans several decades and includes landmark recordings on Decca and ECM. Schiff has received numerous awards, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, the Bach Prize of the City of Leipzig, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2014.
In addition to his artistic achievements, Schiff has been an outspoken voice on political and ethical issues. He has refrained from performing in his native Hungary for more than a decade, citing concerns about rising antisemitism and the erosion of democratic values. Earlier this year, he announced he would cancel his planned 2025–26 season in the United States in protest against political developments linked to former president Donald Trump.
“I cannot just shut up and play,” he said in public statements at the time. “There are situations when you have to speak out.”
The 2025 Praemium Imperiale laureates also include Peter Doig (Painting, United Kingdom), Marina Abramović (Sculpture, Serbia), Eduardo Souto de Moura (Architecture, Portugal), and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker (Theatre/Film, Belgium).
Established in 1988, the Praemium Imperiale is awarded annually to artists whose work has had a global impact. Past recipients in the music category include Leonard Bernstein, Mstislav Rostropovich, Arvo Pärt, Yo-Yo Ma, and Riccardo Muti.
With this recognition, Schiff joins a select group of artists honored not only for their mastery, but also for their broader contributions to international cultural life.
Subscribe to our newsletter