The Prize Ceremony

The festive prize award ceremony takes place at Uppsala University where Johan Skytte served as a chancellor. The ceremony by custom takes place on the last weekend before October 1, the date when Johan Skytte donated land and property to Uppsala University in order to establish a professor chair in political science and eloquence in 1622.

The festivities that traditionally combine academic and social events start on Friday with a lecture held at the Department of Government. In the evening, the Skytte Foundation hosts a dinner for the laureate, the Prize Committee and senior members of the Department of Government.

Saturday is the main celebration day, starting in the afternoon with a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of Johan Skytte in Uppsala Cathedral accompanied by music composed specially for this occasion by the famous musician and director of Uppsala University orchestra, Ulf Johansson Werre. Thereafter, the laureate delivers the Prize award lecture (Johan Skytte lecture). This event is open to the public and traditionally held at the University Main Building. The lecture is followed by the Skytte banquet, a formal dinner at one of the student nations where around 150 invited guests, including royals and other notable public figures, gather for celebrations. At the banquet, the laureate is formally presented with a medal.

The festivities come to an end on Sunday with an excursion organised by the Skytte Foundation and led by the patron of the Foundation, Count Nils-Axel Mörner. The excursion pays homage to Johan Skytte and the highlight of it is a visit to the beautiful Grönsöö Castle by the lake Mälaren built by Johan Skytte himself. Today, the Von Ehrenheim family lives in the castle.

Representatives of the media are welcome to attend every event of the official programme provided that they register their interest with our Master of Ceremonies, Michal Grahn at michal.grahn@statsvet.uu.se. Michal will also assist the media to schedule an interview with the prize winner if requested.