Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture

Established in 2016 by philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen, the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture is a $1 million award given annually to an individual whose ideas have profoundly shaped human self-understanding and advancement in a rapidly changing world. The Berggruen Prize Laureate, selected by an independent jury composed of internationally recognized authors, philosophers, economists, and former Nobel Prize laureates, is chosen from a list of nominees spanning diverse fields of research and practice. During each annual nomination period, the Berggruen Institute invites submissions of candidates whose ideas have both intellectual depth and long-term social and practical value across nations and cultures. Launched in 2024, the Berggruen Prize Essay Competition will serve as a complementary endeavor to the established Berggruen Prize. Whereas the Berggruen Prize honors an individual whose ideas have translated to widespread and significant impact, the Essay Competition seeks to provoke and recognize new, original thinking. BERGGRUEN PRIZE JURY The Berggruen Prize Laureate is selected by an independent jury comprised of seven members. The jury chair convenes the jury several times each year to review nominations and select the winner. NOMINATIONS In addition to reviewing nominations received from the general public, jurors are encouraged to nominate candidates worthy of consideration. Self-nominations and posthumous nominations are not accepted. SELECTION CRITERIA Jurors must balance multiple criteria, including but not limited to: intellectual quality, depth and originality, public impact, diversity and global reach, and the primacy of recognizing ideas that matter. TIMELINE This year's deadline to nominate has passed. The Berggruen Prize Laureate Award Ceremony will be held in 2025 with exact timing to be announced.