Bob Dylan will not attend the Nobel ceremony in Stockholm next month to accept the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy, which bestows the award, announced Wednesday.

“Yesterday evening the Swedish Academy received a personal letter from Bob Dylan, in which he explained that due to pre-existing commitments, he is unable to travel to Stockholm in December and therefore will not attend the Nobel Prize Ceremony,” the Academy said in a statement. “He underscored, once again, that he feels very honored indeed, wishing that he could receive the prize in person.”

The Academy said that the only requirement for prizewinners is to give a lecture within six months of the ceremony, which is scheduled for Dec. 10.