Sonning Foundation

Sonning-Fonden is a Danish foundation whose funds are distributed annually upon application for non-profit cultural purposes. It also awards the Sonning Prize, described as Denmark's largest cultural prize, every other year to a person who has distinguished themselves through work benefiting European culture. The foundation distributes grants once a year for non-profit cultural purposes, with support notably for restoration or rebuilding of historic buildings and for music purposes, including musical projects and initiatives in research and dissemination that bring new impulses to Danish musical life. In 2025 the foundation distributed a total of DKK 1,280,000 across 32 applicants.

Sonning-Fonden's funds are distributed annually upon application for non-profit cultural purposes. In addition, the Sonning Prize — described as Denmark's largest cultural prize — is awarded every other year to a person who has distinguished themselves through work benefiting European culture. The Sonning Prize is awarded to a candidate nominated by the Sonning Committee; after announcement, Danish and European universities can submit candidate proposals to the committee. The round for submitting proposals for the 2027 award ceremony is now closed, and it will be announced on the foundation's site when the round for submitting proposals for the 2029 award ceremony opens in 2028. The foundation distributes grants once a year for non-profit cultural purposes, with support notably for restoration or rebuilding of historic buildings and for music purposes, including musical projects and initiatives in research and dissemination that bring new impulses to Danish musical life; no support is given for the purchase of musical instruments or study grants. The application round for 2026 is now closed. In 2025, Sonning-Fonden distributed a total of DKK 1,280,000 across 32 applicants; a total of 185 applications were received, distributed as follows: building restoration/repair: 15 applications received — DKK 600,000 for distribution; music purposes: 143 applications received — DKK 460,000 for distribution; other non-profit cultural purposes besides building restoration and music purposes: 27 applications received — DKK 220,000 for distribution.

1. 1Sonning-Fonden – Københavns Universitetsonning-fonden.ku.dk
2. 2Sonning Foundationwikidata.org