Jazz icon Herbie Hancock was honoured with one of music’s highest achievements at the 2025 Polar Music Prize. He was one of four laureates who were honoured during the gala awards ceremony on Tuesday night in Stockholm. Sharing the honour with Hancock include Roger Taylor and Brian May of the rock band Queen and Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan.

Founded in 1989 by ABBA manager Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, the Polar Music Prize is considered one of the most prestigious and unique music prizes in the world, crossing over musical boundaries and awarded to individuals, groups and institutions in recognition of exceptional achievements. Previous laureates include Joni Mitchell, Angelique Kidjo, Wayne Shorter, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and more. The inaugural award was given to Paul McCartney in 1992.

In their online tribute, the Polar Music Prize described Hancock as a ” jazz scientist who influenced the development of R&B, funk and hip-hop with visionary albums such as Head Hunters and the MTV hit Rockit, who has always focused on musical development and finding new ways of moving forward.”

The laureates each receive 1 million Swedish krona (equivalent to $100K USD) and were personally awarded by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during the gala event. Performers paying tribute to the laureates included esperanza spalding, Robert Glasper, current Queen frontman Adam Lambert,  pianists Leo Genovese and Bertrand Chamayou, and  Swedish artists Ghost, Miriam Bryant and Erik Grönwall.

You can watch Hancock’s acceptance speech below along with tribute performances from esperanza spalding, Robert Glasper and Leo Genovese.