The Japan Foundation has officially opened the call for nominations for the Japan Foundation Awards 2026, marking the 53rd anniversary of this prestigious international honor.
This initiative seeks to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant, lasting contributions to global friendship and mutual understanding through academic, artistic, or cultural endeavors.
The foundation is looking for candidates whose work resonates beyond a single region, benefiting a broad audience while showing the potential to continue fostering international exchange in the future. This call represents a rare opportunity to highlight the silent architects of global cultural diplomacy.
Award money and benefits
Each of the three recipients selected for the award will receive money and a commemorative certificate to support their ongoing work. This financial recognition is designed to honor past accomplishments while incentivizing future contributions to international relations.
Beyond the monetary prize, winners will be invited to Tokyo in autumn 2026 for a formal presentation ceremony. During this visit, recipients are requested to participate in commemorative events, including lectures where they can share their expertise and insights with a wider audience.
Entry requirement
Candidates must be individuals or organizations based either in Japan or abroad who are active in arts and cultural exchange, Japanese-language education, or Japanese studies.
Notably, the foundation is particularly interested in nominations from modern fields such as pop culture, architecture, design, and sports.
It is important to note that self-nominations are strictly prohibited; candidates must be put forward by a third-party nominator. Additionally, certain groups are ineligible, including government employees whose main occupation is international activity and organizations that are primarily publicly funded or religious in nature.
The nomination process is entirely digital, requiring supporters to download and complete a specific form from the Japan Foundation website.
Completed forms, along with any relevant supporting documentation, should be submitted via email to the Awards Secretariat, though fax and post remain secondary options for those unable to use email.
Deadline
The window for submitting nominations is currently open, but all entries must be received by Friday, February 27, 2026. Nominators are permitted to recommend up to five different candidates during this cycle, providing a broad scope for identifying global talent.
Under a policy introduced to ensure thorough review, any candidate nominated in 2026 will automatically remain eligible for selection for three consecutive years. This means that even if a nominee is not chosen in the current round, their contributions will continue to be considered through 2028.
Where to apply
Visit the Japan Foundation’s call for entry page to start the process. Explore our global opportunities page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
