Education Minister Yoav Kish announced that 97-year-old artist Yaacov Agam is the recipient of the Israel Prize in the field of plastic arts, painting, sculpture and photography for 2026. The prize committee, chaired by Dr. Haim Perluk with members Prof. Gilad Dobshansky and Dr. Nurit Sirkis-Bank, noted in their reasoning that Yaacov Agam's work has echoed a decades-long contribution to Israeli and international art for seven decades. Agam broke the boundaries of plastic art as it was known and innovated languages of kinetic art and op art. Among his creations: the "Fire and Water" fountain in Dizengoff Square. The prize will be awarded to him on the eve of Israel's 78th Independence Day.