Chris
Blackwell

Angélique
Kidjo

Arvo
Pärt

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Ceremony & Banquet 2023

A once in a lifetime night!

We are overwhelmed by the magical evening we had on May 23 when our three legendary Laureates were awarded the 2023 Polar Music Prize at the gala ceremony held at Grand Hôtel in Stockholm.

Chris Blackwell, Angélique Kidjo, and Arvo Pärt, represented by his son Michael Pärt were each presented with the prize by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Ceremony & Banquet 2023

Ibrahim Maalouf joins the line up at the ceremony

The world wide acclaimed jazz trumpetist Ibrahim Maalouf will join Lisa Ekdahl on stage on May 23 to honor Angélique Kidjo. Maalouf has in only a few years become an essential artist and a symbol of intercultural dialogue through his music. In 2022, he became the first Lebanese instrumentalist nominated for a Grammy Award for his album Queen of Sheba in collaboration with Angélique Kidjo.

Ceremony & Banquet 2023

Performing artists at the ceremony and banquet

The line up for this year's ceremony and banquet is out!

Benjamin Ingrosso, Anna Ternheim, Daniela Rathana, Deportees , Desmond Foster, Lisa Ekdahl, Ysee, Joshua Idehen, S:t Jacobs Kammarkör, pianist Karin Haglund and violinist Claudia Bonfiglioli will honor this year's three Laureates at the ceremony and banquet.

Laureate of 2023

Chris Blackwell

Congratulations to Chris Blackwell, founder of the legendary Island Records.

"It was ruthless, and as I discovered, the helter-skelter cutthroat nature of doing business with the sound systems was the best training for working in the record business..."

Laureate of 2023

Angélique Kidjo

Benin's barrier-breaking singer, songwriter and performer is one of three Polar Music Prize Laureates 2023. Congratulations!

"My passion for music has always been unwavering. Being on stage for me is like being in paradise..."

Laureate of 2023

Arvo Pärt

The world’s most performed now living composer and inventor of the tintinnabuli technique receives the Polar Music Prize 2023. Congratulations!

Press

Press room 2023

Here you will find bios, press pictures and press contacts related to the announcement of the Polar Music Prize Laureates 2023.

Previous Laureates