The medal was presented live onstage on Thursday 25 September 2025, at London’s Royal Festival Hall, in the opening concert of the Philharmonia’s 2025-26 season. The presentation was made following Víkingur’s performance of Beethoven Piano Concerto No.3 with the orchestra and its Principal Conductor, Santtu-Matias Rouvali.

First presented in 1871, the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal is awarded for the most outstanding musicianship to the finest musicians of any nationality. It bears the image of Beethoven, to celebrate the close relationship between the composer and the Society which commissioned his Ninth Symphony. Recipients are chosen by the Board and Council of the RPS, their choice annually approved by RPS Members. Among prior recipients are Brahms, Elgar, Sibelius, Rachmaninov, Myra Hess, Stravinsky, Kathleen Ferrier, Britten, Shostakovich, Bernstein, and more recently Martha Argerich, Jessye Norman, John Williams, Mitsuko Uchida, Arvo Pärt, and Thomas Adès.

On presenting the medal to Víkingur, Angela Dixon – Chair of the RPS Board of Trustees, said:

‘Víkingur, your music enchants us. Your exquisite artistry draws our ears to the precious essence of music. In your hands, the message of composers across history is communicated with clarity and resonance. 

Amassing over a billion streams, your beautifully curated recordings have brought the world consolation and light in these uncertain times, and, as we have witnessed tonight, your live performances are more akin to vigils. We have cherished your revelatory take on classic concertos, and marvelled at your extraordinary Goldberg Variations marathon last year. We look forward to what comes next, including the music of John Adams and fellow RPS Gold Medallist György Kurtág. 

Thank you for making the UK such a regular destination, and for travelling to communities all over the country. Please keep coming – you will always find a devoted, welcoming audience here in the UK.’

Víkingur comments ‘I am deeply honoured – and a little overwhelmed – to be included in the company of the recipients of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Gold Medal. I am grateful and touched by this special recognition. I want to thank my loyal and passionate audiences throughout the UK, who always make me feel at home when making music for them. It is my privilege and joy to play music for you that I love and believe in.’

ABOUT VÍKINGUR ÓLAFSSON

Víkingur Ólafsson is one of the most celebrated classical artists of our time; a unique and visionary musician who brings his profound originality to some of the greatest works in music history. His recordings resonate deeply with audiences around the world, reaching over one billion streams and winning numerous awards including the 2025 GRAMMY for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his album of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BBC Music Magazine Album of the Year, and Opus Klassik Solo Recording of the Year (twice). Other notable honours include the Rolf Schock Music Prize, Gramophone’s Artist of the Year, Musical America’s Instrumentalist of the Year, the Order of the Falcon (Iceland’s order of chivalry) as well as the Icelandic Export Award, given by the President of Iceland.

November 2025 sees Víkingur present his latest album Opus 109 which places Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.30 at its heart. In an illuminating and thrilling musical dialogue with Schubert, J.S. Bach and other works by Beethoven, it traces the lineages that converge on this masterpiece of the piano literature. He tours the anticipated new programme widely, bringing it to the greatest concert halls across Europe and North America. In 2025-26, Víkingur opens the season and tours the US with the Philharmonia as Featured Artist, as well as returning to the Berlin Philharmonic with Semyon Bychkov, and the Czech Philharmonic with Antonio Pappano. He also reunites with John Adams and the LA Philharmonic for performances of After the Fall, the piano concerto written for him. Víkingur will mark György Kurtág’s centenary celebrations in 2026 and appear as artist in residence at Cal Performances in Berkeley, California and at MUPA, Budapest.

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