The Nordic Council’s prizes contribute to increasing visibility for the close cultural co-operation in the Nordic Region. The objective of the cultural prizes is to increase interest in Nordic literature, language, film and music. The Environment Prize rewards extraordinary efforts towards a more sustainable Nordic Region. You can read more about each individual prize down below.

The Nordic Council’s prizes are considered to be among the most prestigious prizes in the Nordic Region and enjoy great international recognition. The Literature Prize is the oldest of the five prizes. It was first awarded in 1962 and was followed by the Music Prize in 1965, the Environment Prize in 1995, the Film Prize in 2002, and the Children and Young People’s Literature Prize in 2013. The five prize committees select the nominees and winners.

The prizes are each worth 350,000 Danish krones and are awarded in conjunction with the Nordic Council’s annual Session.

Literature Prize

The Nordic Council Literature Prize has been awarded since 1962 and is given to a work of fiction written in one of the Nordic languages. This may be a novel, a play, or a collection of poems, short stories, or essays that are of a high literary and artistic quality. You can find more information about the literature prize here.

List of winners of the Literature prize:

• 1962; Eyvind Johnson; Hans nådes tid;  Sweden
• 1963; Väinö Linna; Täällä Pohjantähden alla 3;  Finland
• 1964; Tarjei Vesaas; Is-slottet;  Norway
• 1965; Olof Lagercrantz; Från Helvetet till Paradiset;  Sweden, and William Heinesen; Det gode Håb;  Faroe Islands
• 1966; Gunnar Ekelöf; Dīwān över Fursten av Emgión;  Sweden
• 1967; Johan Borgen; Nye noveller;  Norway
• 1968; Per Olof Sundman; Ingenjör Andrées luftfärd;  Sweden
• 1969; Per Olov Enquist; Legionärerna;  Sweden
• 1970; Klaus Rifbjerg; Anna, jeg, Anna;  Denmark
• 1971; Thorkild Hansen; Slavernes kyst, Slavernes skibe and Slavernes øer;  Denmark
• 1972; Karl Vennberg; Sju ord på tunnelbanan;  Sweden
• 1973; Veijo Meri; Kersantin poika;  Finland
• 1974; Villy Sørensen; Uden mål – og med;  Denmark
• 1975; Hannu Salama; Siinä näkijä missä tekijä;  Finland
• 1976; Ólafur Jóhann Sigurðsson; Að laufferjum and Að brunnum;  Iceland
• 1977; Bo Carpelan; I de mörka rummen, i de ljusa;  Finland
• 1978; Kjartan Fløgstad; Dalen Portland;  Norway
• 1979; Ivar Lo-Johansson; Pubertet;  Sweden
• 1980; Sara Lidman; Vredens barn;  Sweden
• 1981; Snorri Hjartarson; Hauströkkrið yfir mér;  Iceland
• 1982; Sven Delblanc; Samuels bok;  Sweden
• 1983; Peter Seeberg; Om fjorten dage;  Denmark
• 1984; Göran Tunström; Juloratoriet;  Sweden
• 1985; Antti Tuuri; Pohjanmaa;  Finland
• 1986; Rói Patursson; Líkasum;  Faroe Islands
• 1987; Herbjørg Wassmo; Hudløs himmel;  Norway
• 1988; Thor Vilhjálmsson; Grámosinn glóir;  Iceland
• 1989; Dag Solstad; Roman 1987;  Norway
• 1990; Tomas Tranströmer; För levande och döda;  Sweden
• 1991; Nils-Aslak Valkeapää; Beaivi, áhčážan; Sami language area
• 1992; Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir; Meðan nóttin líður;  Iceland
• 1993; Peer Hultberg; Byen og verden;  Denmark
• 1994; Kerstin Ekman; Händelser vid vatten;  Sweden
• 1995; Einar Már Guðmundsson; Englar alheimsins;  Iceland
• 1996; Øystein Lønn; Hva skal vi gjøre i dag og andre noveller;  Norway
• 1997; Dorrit Willumsen; Bang. En roman om Herman Bang;  Denmark
• 1998; Tua Forsström; Efter att ha tillbringat en natt bland hästar;  Finland
• 1999; Pia Tafdrup; Dronningeporten;  Denmark
• 2000; Henrik Nordbrandt; Drømmebroer;  Denmark
• 2001; Jan Kjærstad; Oppdageren;  Norway
• 2002; Lars Saabye Christensen; Halvbroren;  Norway
• 2003; Eva Ström; Revbensstäderna;  Sweden
• 2004; Kari Hotakainen; Juoksuhaudantie;  Finland
• 2005; Sjón; Skugga-Baldur;  Iceland
• 2006; Göran Sonnevi; Oceanen;  Sweden
• 2007; Sara Stridsberg; Drömfakulteten;  Sweden
• 2008; Naja Marie Aidt; Bavian;  Denmark
• 2009; Per Petterson; Jeg forbanner tidens elv;  Norway
• 2010; Sofi Oksanen; Puhdistus;  Finland
• 2011; Gyrðir Elíasson; Milli trjánna;  Iceland
• 2012; Merethe Lindstrøm; Dager i stillhetens historie;  Norway
• 2013; Kim Leine; Profeterne fra Evighedsfjorden;  Denmark
• 2014; Kjell Westö; Hägring 38;  Finland
• 2015; Jon Fosse; Andvake, Olavs draumar and Kveldsvævd;  Norway
• 2016; Katarina Frostenson; Sånger och formler;  Sweden
• 2017; Kirsten Thorup; Erindring om kærligheden;  Denmark
• 2018; Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir; Ör;  Iceland
• 2019; Jonas Eika; Efter Solen;  Denmark

Music Prize

The Nordic Council Music Prize focuses on the performance and creation of music of a high artistic standard. The prize is awarded on alternate years to a piece of music by a living composer and to a small or large ensemble. You can find more information about the prize here.

List of winners of the Music prize:

• 1965; Karl-Birger Blomdahl; Sweden
• 1968; Joonas Kokkonen; Finland
• 1970; Lars Johan Werle; Sweden
• 1972; Arne Nordheim; Norway
• 1974; Per Nørgård; Denmark
• 1976; Atli Heimir Sveinsson; Iceland
• 1978; Aulis Sallinen; Finland
• 1980; Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen; Denmark
• 1982; Åke Hermanson; Sweden
• 1984; Sven-David Sandström; Sweden
• 1986; Hafliði Hallgrímsson; Iceland
• 1988; Magnus Lindberg; Finland
• 1990; Olav Anton Thommessen; Norway
• 1991; Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen; Denmark
• 1992; Anders Eliasson; Sweden
• 1993; Mellersta Österbottens Kammarorkester; Finland
• 1994; Erik Bergman; Finland
• 1995; Eric Ericson; Sweden
• 1996; Bent Sørensen; Denmark
• 1997; Björk; Iceland
• 1998; Rolf Wallin; Norway
• 1999; Leif Segerstam; Finland
• 2000;  Kaija Saariaho; Finland
• 2001; Palle Mikkelborg; Denmark
• 2002; Sunleif Rasmussen; Faroe Islands
• 2003; Mari Boine; Norway
• 2004;  Haukur Tómasson; Iceland
• 2005; Ensemble Cikada; Norway
• 2006;  Natasha Barrett; Norway
• 2007; The Eric Ericson Chamber Choir; Sweden
• 2008; Peter Bruun; Denmark
• 2009; Kari Kriikku; Finland
• 2010;  Lasse Thoresen; Norway
• 2011; Mats Gustafsson; Sweden
• 2012; Anna Thorvaldsdóttir; Iceland
• 2013; Pekka Kuusisto; Finland
• 2014; Simon Steen-Andersen; Denmark
• 2015; Svante Henryson; Sweden
• 2016; Hans Abrahamsen; Denmark
• 2017; Susanna Mälkki; Finland
• 2018; Nils Henrik Asheim; Norway
• 2019; Gyða Valtýsdóttir; Iceland

Film Prize

The Film Prize was awarded for the first time in 2002 as part of the Nordic Council’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. Originally awarded on a trial basis, it was made permanent in 2005, and is awarded along with the prizes for music, literature, and the environment. Nordisk Film & TV Fond is responsible for the administration of the prize. It is awarded to a full-length feature that has roots in Nordic culture and displays high standards of artistic quality and originality. Innovation is also weighted heavily. The films nominated should preferably be in one of the Nordic languages. You can read more about the Nordic Council Film Prize here.

List of winners of the Film Prize:

• 2002; Mies vailla menneisyyttä; director, script and and production Aki Kaurismäki; Finland
• 2005; Drabet; director: Per Fly, script: Kim Leona, Dorte Høgh, Mogens Rukov and Per Fly, production: Ib Tardini; Denmark
• 2006; Zozo. director: Josef Fares, production: Anna Anthony; Sweden
• 2007; Kunsten at græde i kor;. director: Peter Schønau Fog, script: Bo Hr. Hansen, production: Thomas Stenderup; Denmark
• 2008; Du levende; director and script: Roy Andersson, production: Pernilla Sandström; Sweden
• 2009; Antichrist; director and script: : Lars von Trier, production: Meta Louise Foldager; Denmark
• 2010; Submarino; director: Thomas Vinterberg, script: Tobias Lindholm, production: Morten Kaufmann; Denmark
• 2011; Svinlängorna; director: Pernilla August, script: Pernilla August and Lolita Ray, production: Helena Danielsson and Ralf Karlsson; Sweden
• 2012; Play; director: Ruben Östlund, production: Erik Hemmendorff; Sweden
• 2013; Jagten; director Thomas Vinterberg; Denmark
• 2014; Hross í oss; director and script: Benedikt Erlingsson, production: Friðrik Þór Friðriksson; Iceland
• 2015; Fúsi; director and script: Dagur Kári, production:  Baltasar Kormákur and Agnes Johansen; Iceland
• 2016; Louder Than Bombs, director Joachim Trier; script: Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt; production: Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt and Thomas Robsahm; Norway
• 2017; Little Wing; director and script Selma Vilhunen, production: Kaarle Aho and Kai Nordberg; Findland
• 2018; Kona fer í stríð; director Benedikt Erlingsson; Iceland
• 2019; Dronningen; director May el-Toukhy; Denmark

The Children and Young People’s Literature Prize

The Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize was awarded for the first time at the Session of the Nordic Council in 2013 along with the Council’s other prizes. It represents the culmination of the culture ministers’ long-held ambition to boost the profile of literature for children and young people in the Nordic Region. The prize is designed to generate greater interest in the shared Nordic sense of cultural affinity and to recognize unique artistic endeavors. You can read more about the Children and Young People’s Literature Prize here.

List of winners of the Children and Young People’s Literature Prize:

• 2013; Karikko; Seita Vuorela and Jani Ikonen; Finland
• 2014: Brune;Håkon Øvreås and Øyvind Torseter; Norway
• 2015: Mördarens apa; Jakob Wegelius; Sweden
• 2016: Sölvasaga unglings; Arnar Már Arngrímsson; Iceland
• 2017: Djur som ingen sett utom vi; Ulf Stark and Linda Bondestam; Sweden
• 2018: Træið ; Bárður Oskarsson; Faroe Islands 
• 2019: Alle sammen teller; Kristin Roskifte; Norway

Environment Prize

The prize goes to a company, organisation or individual for exemplary efforts to integrate respect for nature and the environment into their business or work or for some other form of extraordinary initiative on behalf of nature and the environment. The idea behind the prize is to raise awareness of environmental work in the Nordic Region.  You can find more information about the Environment Prize here.

List of winners of the environment prize:

• 1995; Torleif Ingelög; Sweden
• 1996; Inuit Circumpolar Conference; Greenland
• 1997; The Institute of Product Development at the Technical University of Denmark; Denmark
• 1998; The „Jarðvegsvernd” project, led by Ólafur Arnalds; Iceland
• 1999; Åland Natur & Miljö; Åland Island
• 2000; Bellona Foundaition; Norway
• 2001; Mats Segnestam; Sweden
• 2002; Arne Næss; Norway
• 2003; Finnish Nature League; Finland
• 2004; Coalition Clean Baltic; Multiple countries
• 2005; Ann-Cecilie Norderhaug, Norway
• 2006; Bogi Hansen; Faroe Island
• 2007; Albertslund Municipality; Denmark
• 2008; „Marorka” marine energy management company; Iceland
• 2009; Swedish forest schools initiative „I Ur och Skur”; Sweden
• 2010; Merkur Andelskasse, Ekobanken, and Cultura Sparebank banks; Denmark, Sweden and Norway
• 2011; Scandic hotels; Norway
• 2012; Olli Manninen; Finland
• 2013; Selina Juul and the „Stop Wasting Food” movement, Denmark
• 2014; City of Reykjavik; Iceland
• 2015; SEV energy company; Iceland
• 2016; Too Good To Go app; Denmark
• 2017; RePack service; Finland
• 2018; Natural Resource Council of Attu; Greenland
• 2019; Greta Thunberg, Sweden (declined the award)