Awards

Plácido Domingo’s honors and distinctions range from 12 Grammy Awards to the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil. Discover them here.

Grammy Awards

1971

G. Verdi: Aida
Principal Soloist for
Best Opera Recording

1974

G. Puccini: La Bohème
Principal Soloist for
Best Opera Recording

1983

G. Verdi: La Traviata
Principal Soloist for
Best Opera Recording

1984

G. Bizet: Carmen
Principal Soloist for
Best Opera Recording

1984

Always in my Heart
(Siempre en mir corazon)
Best Latin Pop Performance

1988

R. Wagner: Lohengrin
Principal Soloist for
Best Opera Recording

1990

Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert
Best Classical Vocal Performance

1992

R. Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten
Principal Soloist for
Best Opera Recording

2000

100 years of Mariachi
Best Mexican-American Performance

Latin Grammy Awards

2000

T. Breton: La Dolores
Best Classical Album

2001

I. Albéniz: Merlin
Best Classical Album

2010

Latin Grammys Person of the Year
Chosen for his professional and philanthropic achievements

Awards and Special Honors

Among the Many Awards and Honors Plácido Domingo has Received are:

 

  • Honorary President of the Shangyin Opera House (China, 2023)
  • Honorary Professor of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (China, 2023)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Murex D'or Awards (Lebanon, 2023)
  • European Scool of Economics' Vision and Reality Achievement Award (Spain, 2023)
  • Verga Prize for Lifetime Achievement (Italy, 2023)
  • Artis Suavitas Civitas 2023 Award (Italy, 2023)
  • Spanish Purebred Award - Royal Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders’ Association ANCCE (Spain, 2022)
  • Escaparate Honor Award (Spain, 2022)
  • Honorary Patron - Seville Culture Fund Foundation - FOCUS Foundation (2022)
  • Cross of Merit - Asociación de Hidalgos de España (2022)
  • Piero Cappuccilli International Award (Italy, 2022)
  • Organization of Ibero-American Journalists -OPI Ibero-American Personality of the Year (Spain, 2022)
  • Premio San Pietro a Majella  (Italy, 2021)
  • Knight of the Order of Skënderbej (Albania, 2021)
  • ACPE - Spanish Association of Foreign Press Correspondents Culture Award (2021)
  • Bellini d'Oro (Italy, 2021)
  • Honorary Ambassador of the World Heritage of Spain (2021)
  • 2021 BraVo Awards Global Star Prize (Russia)
  • Universitas Summa Cum Laude recognition by the GEES Spain Group (Spain)
  • CC Forum Award 2020 (Monaco)
  • Batuta Award for Excellence in Classical Music (Mexico, 2019) 
  • Honorary Fellowship of the Opera Awards Foundation (USA)
  • Sophia Award for Excellence (Spain)
  • Orquidea Brassavola de Oro (Honduras)
  • El Patronato de la Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco (Mexico)
  • Español Universal 1997 - Fundación Independiente (Spain)
  • Birgit Nilsson Prize (Sweden)
  • Cantigas Award For Talent and Lifetime Achievement (USA)
  • ECHO Deutscher Musikpreis (Germany)
  • Asia Pacific Brands Foundation Legendary Award
  • CulturArte de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico)
  • Dedication of Plácido Domingo Hall at the National Opera Center (USA)
  • Comendador Ordem do Mérito Cultural Carlos Gomes (Brazil)
  • Le Grand Prix Culturel de la Ville de Pécs (Hungary)
  • Grosse Silberne Ehrenzeichen Für Verdienste Um Die Republik Österreich (Austria)
  • Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur (France)
  • Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (France)
  • Commandeur Arts et Lettres (France)
  • Grande Medaille de la Ville de Paris (France)
  • Isabel de Católica (Spain)
  • Premio Prinicipe de Asturias de las Artes (Spain)
  • Aguila Azteca (Mexico)
  • Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst 1. Klasse (Austria)
  • Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um das Land Wien (Austria)
  • Kammersänger und Ehrenmitglied der Wiener Staatsoper (Austria)
  • Capo dell’Ordine "Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" Grande Ufficiale (Italy)
  • Grã Cruz da Ordem do Infante d’Henrique (Portugal)
  • Cavalliere di Malta (Malta)
  • Unicef Socio de Honor (NPO)
  • Order of the Cedars (Lebanon)
  • Wolf Prize in Arts (Israel)
  • Baltika Grand Prix for Outstanding Achievement (Russia)
  • Proclamation of Plácido Domingo Day in San Francisco - November 15, 1994 (USA)
  • Distinguished Artists Award (USA)
  • Ambassador Foundation Award for Excellence (USA)
  • Presse Musicale Internationale Grand Prix 2000 (France)
  • Beijing Reignwood Culture Funds Ambassador of Peace (China)
  • Cruz Roja Mexicana el título de Benefactor (Mexico)
  • Opernsänger des Jahres 1977 (Germany)
  • Proclamation of Plácido Domingo Day in in the County of Allegheny - March 31, 1991 (USA)
  • Gold Medal of Honor for Music (USA)
  • Medalla al Mérito Turístico en su categoría de Oro (Spain)
  • Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul - Comendador (Brazil)
  • Diploma de Honor Provincia de Lima (Peru)
  • Die Medaille Für Kunst und Wissenschaft von Hamburg (Germany)

Honorary Doctorate

  • Ukranian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music, Ukraine (2019)
  • Manhattan School of Music, USA (2018)
  • Chapman University, USA (2017)
  • University of Pécs, Hungary (2016)
  • Universidad de Salamanca, Spain (2015)
  • Pomona College, USA (2014)
  • Universidad de Murcia, Spain (2014)
  • Berklee College of Music, USA/Spain (2014)
  • Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Romania (2014)
  • Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain (2013)
  • Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Spain (2012)
  • Harvard University, USA (2011)
  • California State University, USA (2010)
  • Universidad de San Martin de Porres, Peru (2009)
  • Juilliard School, USA (2008)
  • Oxford University, England (2003)
  • Chopin Music Academy, Poland (2003)
  • Anhuac University, Mexico (2001)
  • Washington College of Chestertown, USA (2000)
  • Georgetown University, USA (1992)
  • New York University, USA (1990)
  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain (1989)
  • Oklahoma City University, USA (1984)
  • Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, USA (1982)
  • Royal Northern College of Music, England (1982)

Special Honors

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Austrian Music Theater Prize, Österreichische Musiktheaterpreis, a most prestigious award, has been recognizing outstanding achievements in opera and theater in Austria since 2013.  Plácido Domingo received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his unparalleled music career. (Salzburg, Austria - August 2020)

Lincoln Center Performing Arts Hall of Fame

Plácido Domingo was named one of Lincoln Center's "Founding Legends" as inaugural inductee into the Performing Arts Hall of Fame. (June 2017) 

Praemium Imperiale Award

The Praemium Imperiale is an international art prize awarded since 1989 by the Imperial family of Japan on behalf of the Japan Art Association in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theatre/film. (Japan, 2013)

UNESCO Ambassador

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors are celebrity advocates of UNESCO who use their talent or fame to spread the UNESCO ideals, especially attracting media attention. (France, 2012)

Honorary Knighthood

Plácido Domingo received an honorary knighthood for his contributions to music and his charity work in England and around the world. Because he is not a British citizen, he cannot use "Sir" in front of his name, but he can put the letters KBE after it. The initials stand for Knight Commander of the British Empire. (October 2002)

The Grand Cross of Civil Order of Merit

The Grand Cross of Civil Order of Merit - in Spain is a decoration for Culture and Education and bestowed to personalities who have achieved extraordinary results in their field of work. (September 2002)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States of America. The award recognizes individuals who have made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours. (July 2002)

Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur

Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur - Commander of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor, a decoration given very rarely to a non-French citizen.The order was instituted by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize eminent service to the French nation. (March 2002)

Kennedy Center Honors

Lifetime Achievement Award. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honors annually outstanding American performers for their cultural contribution to the nation. (December 2000) 

Great Prize of the International Music Press

The prize honors, annually since 1989, "a figure from the music world whose work has induced music critics to reconsider their appreciation criteria." Plácido Domingo was choosen "for the rigour of the work which he produces, for more then a quarter century, with the constant stress on bringing tradition alive in order to respond better to the sensitivies of our times." (September 2000)

Hispanic Heritage Award for Arts

The award was established to promote and reward the best the Latino community has to offer in the US in education, literature, leadership, sports and the arts plus a lifetime achievement award. (September 1999)

American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Awards 1998

Outstanding Performances By An Individual or Act in A Variety, Music Series or Special Plácido Domingo received this award for his work on "The Metropolitan Opera Presents - Carmen". The ALMA Awards honors both Hispanics and non-Hispanics in television and film for their positive and accurate portrayal of Hispanic Americans.

Best Lyric Singer of the Year 1997

The Prize from the Sociedad General de Autores Española for his role in the world premiere of "Divinas Palabras" composed by Garcia Abril and staged for the re-opening of the Teatro Real. (October 1997)

Best Male Singer in 1997

Prize for his performances of "Samson and Dalila" from the Association of Argentinian Music Critics in Buenos Aires. Plácido Domingo sang these performances celebrating the 25th anniversary of his debut at the Teatro Colón.

This site uses cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience. Find out more about how we use cookies in our privacy policy.