The 2025 Birgit Nilsson Prize – the most valuable prize in classical music, worth 1 million US dollars – has been awarded to the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. Announced today by Susanne Rydén, President of the Birgit Nilsson Foundation, the French opera festival becomes the first music festival to receive the honour. The Prize will be formally presented in Stockholm on 21 October by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, in a ceremony featuring the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Swedish Opera Chorus conducted by Susanna Mälkki.

The Foundation’s citation highlights the Festival’s 'outstanding artistic achievements and commitment to developing and commissioning new opera productions,' giving particular recognition to the 2021 world premiere of Innocence by the late Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Described as a major contemporary operatic landmark, Innocence – set to a libretto by Sofi Oksanen and staged by Simon Stone – was co-commissioned by five leading opera houses and has since been staged worldwide. It will receive its Metropolitan Opera debut in New York in April 2026.

Today’s announcement comes shortly after the sudden death of the Festival’s General Director, Pierre Audi, who had led the organisation since 2019. In a statement prepared in advance of the announcement, Audi wrote: 'The Birgit Nilsson Prize will help the Festival cross these challenging times… and enable it to remain an inspiring birthplace for new operas.' Rydén paid tribute to Audi’s 'extraordinary contribution to the world of opera; and his pride in receiving the Prize onbehalf of his team.'

Founded in 1948, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence has long been admired for its balance of tradition and innovation. Its repertoire spans Monteverdi to modern premieres, and landmark productions – such as Patrice Chéreau’s Elektra in 2013 – have gone on to international success. The Festival’s commitment to developing young artists through its Académie and Mediterranean youth orchestra also forms a key part of its work.

Reflecting on the honour, Rydén said: 'Sixty years after Birgit Nilsson’s own debut as Elektra in Stockholm, her legacy continues to thrive – recognising not only the achievements of the past, but also the future of opera as a living art form.'

For more information, visit birgitnilsson.com