Tony Cragg receives the European Culture Prize 2026 European honor for a giant of sculpture
Sir Tony Cragg will receive the European Culture Prize 2026, recognising his achievements in redefining the language of contemporary sculpture.
The award ceremony will take place on 4th September 2026 at the world-famous Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The European Cultural Forum will honor a sculptor whose work has set standards for decades and inspired generations of artists.
With his sculptures, Sir Tony Cragg combines nature, science, materials research, and artistic vision into a distinctive formal language. His works open up new perspectives on form, movement, and space and are among the most important works of contemporary sculpture. They are represented in renowned museums, public collections, and public spaces worldwide.
The British-born artist has lived and worked in Wuppertal for many years. From there, he has created a body of work that enjoys worldwide acclaim and has had a lasting impact on international sculpture. For decades, Sir Tony Cragg has been closely associated with the art and cultural scene of North Rhine-Westphalia and has made Wuppertal a significant center for contemporary sculpture.
His founding of the Waldfrieden Sculpture Park has created a unique venue for contemporary art that attracts visitors from all over the world and is now one of the most important sculpture parks in Europe, permanently anchoring North Rhine-Westphalia on the international map of contemporary art.
