Sima Bina Receives the 16th Bita Prize from Stanford University

Sima Bina and the 16th Bita Prize at Stanford University

The 16th Bita Prize for Persian Arts was presented to Sima Bina at Stanford University on November 7, 2026. Stanford’s official event listing identifies the program as a celebration of the acclaimed Iranian musician and describes her contribution to preserving and promoting Persian folk music and culture.

The event was held in person at Stanford and formed part of the university’s Iranian Studies programming. Stanford’s Iranian Studies archive also lists the November 7 event as a past event featuring Sima Bina.

The importance of the Bita Prize extends beyond a single evening.

The award is associated with Stanford’s Iranian Studies program and has become an important platform for recognizing Iranian and Persian artistic achievement. Over the years, the prize has been associated with prominent figures from Iranian literature, music, cinema, visual arts, architecture, and cultural life.

For Sima Bina, the recognition is particularly meaningful because her career has been devoted to an area of Iranian culture that can be difficult to preserve: oral and regional musical traditions.

Why Sima Bina Received the Bita Prize

The significance of Sima Bina’s work lies in the breadth and duration of her artistic career.

November 9, 2026 | 6:01 pm