Three musical icons honoured with the Polar Music Prize 2025 – Queen, Herbie Hancock and Barbara Hannigan

The ceremony and banquet took place at The Grand Hotel in Stockholm and was hosted by mezzo-soprano and journalist, Boel Adler. The evening featured live music from a spectacular line-up of artists including GRAMMY® nominated singer/songwriter and frontman of Queen, Adam Lambert with a showstopping performance of Queen hits “Who Wants to Live Forever” and “Another One Bites the Dust”. Ghost, #1 on the Billboard 200 album charts, also took to the stage with Opeth guitarist Fredrik Åkesson for an electrifying rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Other performances came from two, five-time GRAMMY® award winning artists – the jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding and pianist and producer Robert Glasper – who teamed up on Herbie Hancock’s “Trust Me” and “Watermelon Man”. French pianist Bertrand Chamayou gave a stunning surprise performance of “Stars” (from Pentagram No.3, by Dane Rudhyar) and “Trois Beaux Oiseaux De Paradis” (Ravel), with a moving speech dedicated to Barbara Hannigan.

GRAMMY® awarded Argentinian pianist Leo Genovese, plus two of Sweden’s pre-eminent voices Miriam Bryant and Erik Grönwall (from H.E.A.T and Skid Row), the renowned Eric Ericson Chamber Choir and musicians from Musikhögskolan Ingesund also captivated the audience.

On receiving the Polar Music Prize, Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen said:

“The Polar Music Prize is exceptional in the fact that unlike other awards it recognises the entirety of an artist’s career. What an honour to be included in the glittering cavalcade of previous laureates. True Olympian company indeed. We are so proud to be the recipients of this incredibly prestigious award.”

Herbie Hancock said:

“What an incredible honour to be with you here tonight, to receive the prestigious Polar Music Prize. I’m deeply humbled. I accept this award not just for myself, but on behalf of all the musicians, and dreamers who dare to believe that creativity and human connection can change the world."

Barbara Hannigan said:

“I am humbled to be among these Laureates of "musical royalty", and to share the honours tonight with the legends who are Herbie Hancock and Queen.”

Pictures from the evening can be found on Flickr and clips of the performing artists on YouTube.