The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media has been awarding the Theaterpreis des Bundes since 2015. The prize is awarded to small and medium-sized theatres in Germany that have distinguished themselves through their outstanding artistic diversity, exemplary operating structures, special achievements in the aesthetic development of the performing arts or innovative strategies for expanding audiences.
Previously presented as a biennial award, the prize has been awarded annually since 2023. It is endowed with a total of 500,000 euros and is awarded as a main prize and in three categories. The award winners oblige to use the prizes for further artistic programme work or to improve artistic production conditions.
The Theaterpreis des Bundes is awarded on the recommendation of a jury of experts appointed by the Minister of State for Culture. The award is announced annually in spring. It is open to the public so that all interested theatres and ensembles can apply.
The project administrator is the Fonds Darstellende Künste in cooperation with the Zentrum Bundesrepublik Deutschland des Internationalen Theaterinstituts e.V. (ITI).