On the evening of April 17, 2026—and thus for the first time in the immediate run-up to the Berlin Theater Festival—the curtain rose: the Theaterpreis des Bundes was awarded at a festive gala at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.

And the Winner is…

This year the prize, worth 200,000 euros, was awarded to HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts. The Theater Oberhausen, Theater Lindenhof, and stellwerk junges theater each received the awards worth 100,000 euros.
In addition to the Federal Government’s recognition of outstanding theater institutions, the Fonds Darstellende Künste presented the 2026 Tabori Prize—the highest honor in the independent performing arts—to raumlaborberlin this evening.

A Tribute to Theater

The awards ceremony provided a grand stage for this year’s winners, but also gave prominent voices a chance to speak: Jonathan Meese in a lecture performance and Dominique Horwitz in an artistic solo.

Under the artistic direction of Ron Zimmering, a high-caliber acting ensemble featuring Franziska Hartmann, Anne Hoffmann, Pascal Houdus, Franklyn “Slunch” Kakyire, Elias Nuriel Kohl, Ulrike Krumbiegel, and Wiebke Mollenhauer guided the audience through the event. Causa Rynkowski and DJ D’CHAY will provided the musical backdrop for the evening.