US Artist Meredith Monk Receives Great Art Prize Berlin - Meredith Monk Wins Berlin’s Grand Canyon Art Prize for 2026
Meredith Monk, the 83-year-old pioneer of avant-garde performance, will receive Berlin’s Grand Canyon Art Prize in 2026. The award honours her lifelong contributions as a composer, singer, director, choreographer, and filmmaker. Her work has reshaped opera, music theatre, film, and installation art over decades.
The Grand Canyon Art Prize of Berlin recognises Monk’s bold and influential career. Her creations blend sound, movement, and visual storytelling in ways that challenge traditional boundaries. Critics and audiences alike have celebrated her ability to merge disciplines with both playfulness and depth.
The €15,000 prize will be formally presented on March 18. Monk’s approach—often described as visionary—has left a lasting mark on contemporary performance. Her experiments with voice, gesture, and space continue to inspire artists across generations. From intimate vocal pieces to large-scale multimedia productions, her work remains difficult to categorise. Yet its impact is undeniable. The jury highlighted her fearless innovation and her role in expanding what art can be.
The award places Monk alongside past recipients known for redefining their fields. At 83, she still performs and creates new works. The ceremony in March will celebrate not just her achievements but her ongoing influence on global art and culture.
