Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026 — Festive Award Ceremony
Awarding of the Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize 2026 to publicist Güner Yasemin Balcı by Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann
About Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026
The Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize is the most important award of the city of Oldenburg in the field of contemporary history and politics. It is awarded every two years to personalities who, in the spirit of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Carl von Ossietzky, who grew up in Oldenburg, advocate for democracy, freedom of the press, and civil rights. The award is endowed with 10,000 Euros.
The laureate for 2026 is the publicist Güner Yasemin Balcı, author of several non-fiction books and novels, a long-time journalist, and since 2020, the integration commissioner for the Berlin district of Neukölln. The festive award ceremony by Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann will take place on May 21, 2026, in Oldenburg — an event that attracts attention far beyond the city limits.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026 al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Carl von Ossietzky — Prize and Occasion
Born in Hamburg in 1889 and raised in Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky was the editor-in-chief of the magazine Die Weltbühne and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1936. His exposure of the secret rearmament of the German Reich and his unconditional pacifist stance led to his imprisonment in Nazi Germany; he died in 1938 as a result of his time in concentration camps. The city of Oldenburg, where Ossietzky spent his youth, has awarded the prize named after him in his memory since the 1980s.
Güner Yasemin Balcı — Laureate 2026
Güner Yasemin Balcı, born in Berlin-Neukölln in 1975, became known for novels such as Arabboy and ArabQueen, as well as for her work as a film author and journalist (taz, Welt am Sonntag, ZDF). For years, her work has focused on growing up in urban environments shaped by migration, the tensions between tradition, religion, and individual freedom, and the challenges of democratic education. Since 2020, she has been the integration commissioner for the Berlin-Neukölln district — a position in which she bridges publicistic discourse and local political practice.
Ceremony by Lord Mayor Krogmann
The festive award ceremony is traditionally conducted by the Lord Mayor of the city of Oldenburg. In 2026, Jürgen Krogmann will deliver the laudation. The ceremony includes musical contributions, the official presentation of the award, and a thank-you speech by the laureate. The event is considered one of the most significant cultural and political dates in the Oldenburg city calendar.
Significance of the Prize
With an endowment of 10,000 Euros and the international attention each award ceremony receives, the Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize is one of the most distinguished democracy prizes awarded by municipal bodies in Germany. Previous laureates include Lev Kopelev, Walter Jens, Jutta Limbach, Robert Misik, and the International Auschwitz Committee.
Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026 — edition 2026
On May 21, 2026, the city of Oldenburg will award the Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize 2026 to the publicist and integration commissioner Güner Yasemin Balcı. Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann will deliver the laudation and present the award. The prize is endowed with 10,000 Euros and is awarded every two years.
The ceremony honors Balcı's publicistic work on migration, democracy, and civil rights, as well as her local political work as the integration commissioner for the Berlin district of Neukölln. The ceremony follows the decades-long tradition of the prize, named after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Carl von Ossietzky, who grew up in Oldenburg.
Laureate Güner Yasemin Balcı
Güner Yasemin Balcı is one of the most prominent public voices on migration and integration policy in Germany. Her books Arabboy and ArabQueen sparked considerable discussion, and her contributions to taz, Welt am Sonntag, Spiegel, and ZDF have shaped public debate for years. With her move in 2020 to the position of integration commissioner for Berlin-Neukölln, she combines publicistic reflection with direct local political practice — a dual role that the prize particularly honors.
Award Ceremony
The award ceremony will be opened by the Lord Mayor of the city of Oldenburg, followed by the laudation, musical interludes, the presentation of the prize, and the laureate's thank-you speech. Representatives from politics, culture, and academia, local media, and representatives of the University of Oldenburg, which bears the name Carl von Ossietzky, traditionally participate.
Programme Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026 2026
Order of Proceedings for the Award Ceremony
The exact program for 2026 will be published by the organizer in spring/summer. The structure follows the proven key points of previous years:
- Welcome by the Lord Mayor of the city of Oldenburg
- Musical opening
- Laudation for the laureate
- Presentation of the Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize 2026
- Thank-you speech by Güner Yasemin Balcı
- Musical closing
- Reception afterwards
Background
- Prize Giver: City of Oldenburg
- Endowment: €10,000
- Frequency: every two years
- Namesake: Carl von Ossietzky (1889–1938), Nobel Peace Prize laureate 1935
Highlights Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026 2026
- Laureate Güner Yasemin Balcı (publicist, integration commissioner Berlin-Neukölln)
- Award presented by Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann
- Endowment of €10,000
- Award ceremony of the City of Oldenburg in the spirit of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Carl von Ossietzky
Prices Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026 2026
Festive event — participation by invitation or upon registration with the City of Oldenburg.
Practical information — Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026
Date 2026
Thursday, May 21, 2026 — festive award ceremony in Oldenburg.
Venue
The exact venue in Oldenburg will be announced by the city of Oldenburg (in previous years, among others, PFL-Kulturzentrum, Schloss Oldenburg).
Access
The award ceremony is an official festive event of the city of Oldenburg. Participation by invitation or upon registration via the press office.
Information
Information on the award ceremony, program, and laureate can be found on oldenburg.de under the Culture section — Carl-von-Ossietzky-Preis.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Carl-von-Ossietzky-Prize 2026 al mejor precio.
Sponsored link