Edward Ahlbeck Glader (b.2007) is a Swedish pianist and the winner of the Swedish Polar Star Prize 2026, where the jury’s motivation read: ”Edward Ahlbeck Glader unites musical maturity with sincere playing and a passionate expression. His generous musicianship and strong charisma always feel spontaneous, and his interpretation is created in the moment”. ”[Edward] demonstrates a rare ability to shape musical wholes and give the music both direction and presence.” Since the autumn of 2025, he has been studying in the bachelor’s programme at the Hochschule für Musik Basel in Switzerland with renowned professor Claudio Martínez Mehner. This year, Edward has been selected as Sweden’s representative in the competition Eurovision Young Musicians in Armenia. The highlight of 2025 was his participation in the prestigious Verbier Festival’s Soloist Programme in Switzerland, as one of six internationally selected pianists. During the year, he also performed at the Helsingborg and Gothenburg piano festivals, as well as at the Lev Natochenny Piano Festival in Bad Homburg, Germany, where Edward performed Beethoven’s ”Hammerklavier” Sonata. In 2024, Edward made his concerto debut performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. That same year, he made his debut in Germany with a sold-out solo recital at Sasel-Haus Hamburg. Edward is a multiple prizewinner in international piano competitions such as the Steinway & Sons Nordic Junior Piano Competition, MozArte International Junior Piano Competition, Euregio Young Piano Award, Gothenburg International Piano Competition, and the PIANALE International Piano Competition & Festival. Edward grew up in Stockholm, where he studied at Lilla Akademien with Lena Power, Stefan Bojsten, and Martin Sturfält. He has also studied privately with professor Paolo Giacometti at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf, Germany. In addition, he has drawn inspiration from the Jiri Hlinka Piano Academy in Bergen, Norway. Edward has participated in masterclasses with several renowned pianists and teachers, including Leif Ove Andsnes, Kirill Gerstein, Alexander Melnikov, Akiko Ebi, Kevin Kenner, Jean-E ffl Bavouzet, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Rena Shereshevskaya, Minsoo Sohn, and Yulianna Avdeeva, among others.