Several worldwide great artists have visited Kongsberg during this festival; international stars including Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, Nigel Kennedy, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves, McCoy Tyner, Radka Toneff, Bobby McFerrin, John Butcher, Anthony Braxton, Diana Krall and Pat Metheny have played in Kongsberg several times.

[1][2] The festival is also an opportunity for young talented musicians to perform, and many now well-known Norwegian jazz-artists have begun their career in Kongsberg.

[4][5] The award has previously been named DnB NOR-prisen, Vital-prisen and KlartSvar-prisen, for who has sponsored the prize over the years.

The ceremony takes place at the jazz festival's last day.

As part of the prize, the winner gives a concert at the festival the following year.