In 2026, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) will present the newly redesigned Theaterpreis des Bundes – Application period: September 1, 2025 to November 15, 2025
“Theaters are much more than stages – they are spaces for independent thought, aesthetic innovation and democratic community spirit. With the Theaterpreis des Bundes, the German government honors those very creative forces that create culture beyond the big cities, forge identity and fill our open society with life.”
Wolfram Weimer, Minister of State for Culture and Media
With this award, the German government recognizes the diversity of theater production as one of the cornerstones of cultural life in Germany and theaters themselves as places of social reflection, social encounter, and artistic innovation.
Starting this year, all theaters in the Federal Republic of Germany are eligible to apply for the Innovation Award: municipal and state theaters, regional theaters, private theaters, guest performance venues, and production houses for the independent performing arts. The award honors theater structures of all sizes for their remarkable work nationwide.
The theater prize is awarded for an outstanding program over several years that is characterized above all by its aesthetic and artistic quality. The role that the theater plays in social dialogue and cohesion in urban and rural areas, the access to the theater that is created, the commitment to building agile structures and processes, as well as sustainability, digitality, and sociocultural issues are also taken into account. The award recognizes innovative and forward-looking approaches – from programming and audience to staff and organization.
The different spatial, financial, and structural conditions under which the theaters operate play a decisive role in the decision.
Who can apply?
Theaters can apply in three different categories, depending on their structure:
- Municipal and state theaters
- Private theaters and theaters hosting guest performances
- Independent production houses
- Category 1: Municipal theaters, state theaters, and regional theaters that are primarily financed by public funding and usually have permanent artistic ensembles.*
- Category 2: Private theaters, which are generally primarily privately funded, as well as guest performance theaters based in the Federal Republic of Germany.
- Category 3: Production houses for the independent performing arts based in the Federal Republic of Germany, which work in co-production or on their own with primarily self-employed, so-called independent artists and ensembles.
A prerequisite for an application is that the theater has a regular program of performances with a variety of plays and/or other socially relevant, activating (including participatory) program components in their own venue. In their applications, theaters can refer to exceptional, exemplary achievements that have taken place since the beginning of the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons.
* Theaters eligible to apply may have different organizational structures, ranging from municipal enterprises to limited liability companies.
How much is the prize money?
The Theaterpreis des Bundes 2026 is endowed with €200,000 and honors the most outstanding and innovative work in Germany. This main prize will be awarded once and applies to all three application categories.
In addition, an award endowed with €100,000, will be presented in each application category.
A separate application for the main prize is not necessary.
What should be included in an application?
Applications must be submitted using an online form, which is correctly completed and includes the following information:
- A detailed presentation of the theater company, including
- description of the history of the theater and its current location
- a description of the structural, personnel, economic and financial situation
- information about the theater’s venues/stages
- audience figures for the past seasons 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 and number of productions shown per season
- an overview of those with primary responsibility for or who have a significant influence on the work of the theater (e.g., artistic director, artistic management, managing director, chief dramaturge, program director, etc.).
- A detailed description of the special performance delivered by the theater in the past seasons 2023/2024 and 2024/2025. This should highlight remarkable aspects of the artistic program, but can also include internal or communication measures.
- A brief description of the planned project for which the prize money would be used, which should be a continuation of the remarkable work of recent years.
- Optional: additional materials such as the programs for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons or relevant publications.
What can the prize money be used for?
The award winners undertake to use the prize money for further artistic program work or for improving artistic production conditions. The prize money can thus be used in 2026 (after the award ceremony) and in the first half of 2027 for a new, additional project of an artistic, programmatic, or, if applicable, structural nature. A brief description of such a project is part of the application form. In the event of nomination to the shortlist, a more detailed description may need to be submitted.
How will the winners be chosen?
Three expert juries with diverse expertise about the various regions, genres and structures of the performing arts will chose the winners based on all the applications that have been submitted correctly. The main prize and the awards in the three prize categories will be presented in the spring of 2026.
Juries
The members of the jury are divided into three expert groups assigned to the individual categories, which decide on the awards to be given to the theaters. The winner(s) of the main prize is decided jointly by the entire nine-member jury:
Municipal and state theaters:
- Yvonne Büdenhölzer, Head of Suhrkamp Theater Verlag
- Simon Strauß, journalist and author
- Clemens Leander, Director of Acting at Theater Magdeburg and costume designer
Private theaters and theaters hosting guest performances
- Gundula Reinig, Director of Theater Rüsselsheim
- Hendrik Frobel, Managing Director of Chamäleon Theater Berlin GmbH
- Johanna Sandberg, Artistic Director of Ernst-Barlach Theater
Freie Produktionshäuser:
- Julian Warner, artist
- Martina Grohmann, artistic director, Schauspielhaus Wien
- Stawrula Panagiotaki, director, studiobühneköln
Application
The application period begins on September 1 and ends on November 15, 2025. The following link will redirect you to the application form on the Fonds Darstellende Künste online portal.
To help you prepare your application, the Fonds Darstellende Künste is offering three digital information events. During these events, we will provide practical advice and answer your questions about the application process.
Click here for the Dates. (Redirect to the Fonds’ website)
When and where will the award ceremony take place?
The award ceremony will take place in the spring of 2026 at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
Contact
Katharina Mahler
Project management & management consultant
theaterpreis@fonds-daku.de