Karlspreis-Bürgerfest CelebratE yoU!

Karlspreis-Bürgerfest "CelebratE yoU!" — Europe's City Celebrates its Prize

When the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen is awarded — the most important award for services to European unification — the city celebrates not only in the Coronation Hall of the Town Hall, but directly in front of it: On May 13th and 14th, 2026, the Katschhof between Aachen Cathedral and the Town Hall will be transformed into the grand "CelebratE yoU!" Civic Festival. Two days of open-air program with music, EU institutions' stands, and family activities — complemented by a four-week supporting program that turns the entire city into a forum for European discourse from April 14th to May 14th.

Laureate 2026 — Mario Draghi

The Charlemagne Prize Laureate 2026 is Prof. Dr. Mario Draghi, the former President of the European Central Bank and former Italian Prime Minister. His contribution to European stability — particularly the famous "Whatever it takes" promise in 2012, which saved the Euro from collapse — and his report on European competitiveness made him the choice of the majority of the Charlemagne Prize Directorate. Award Ceremony: May 14th, 2026, 1:00 PM, Coronation Hall of the Town Hall. Reception by Charlemagne Prize Director Armin Laschet and Aachen's Lord Mayor Michael Ziemons.

Program May 13th, 2026 — Eve of the Ceremony

The eve of the ceremony features the musical highlight: Michael Schulte will perform at 8:00 PM — the German singer-songwriter who achieved 4th place for Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 with "You Let Me Walk Alone". Accompanying program with other acts and DJ sets. Free admission.

Program May 14th, 2026 — The Festival Day

The festival day offers a packed schedule running parallel to the award ceremony in the Town Hall:

• 40 Fingers — Italian guitar quartet with millions of followers on social media
• WDR Brass Quintett — Brass repertoire from classical to modern
• Brazzo Brazzone — Ensemble from Palermo with Jazz, Balkan, Latin, Funk, and Soul
• Fünflinge — A cappella group
• DJ Adelaid — DJ set
• Die Sendung mit der Maus — Family program with face painting, craft stations, and European education

EU Institutions — Europe You Can Touch

During the civic festival, the Katschhof will host interactive stands from the most important European institutions:

• European Central Bank (ECB)
• Representation of the European Parliament
• EUROPE DIRECT Aachen
• Stands of Aachen's partner cities (including Reims, Liège, Maastricht)
• Stands of the European Capitals of Culture 2026

76 Interrail Tickets as Grand Prize

At 4:15 PM on May 14th, the draw for the 76 Interrail tickets will take place — enabling pan-European rail travel for young Europeans. Registration for the raffle is open at www.75+1.de.

Live Broadcast of the Award Ceremony

While the award ceremony takes place at 1:00 PM in the historic Coronation Hall of the Town Hall, it will be broadcast on the big screen at the Katschhof — allowing thousands of citizens to witness the official proceedings.

International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen — The Tradition

The International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen has been awarded annually since 1950 to personalities who have rendered outstanding services to European unification. First recipients: Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi (1950), Hendrik Brugmans (1951). Later recipients include: Winston Churchill (1956), Konrad Adenauer (1954), Helmut Kohl (1988), Bill Clinton (2000), Pope Francis (2016), Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2023). With Mario Draghi, another heavyweight in economics and politics joins this list in 2026.

Aachen — The Historic City of Charlemagne

The independent city of Aachen, with its approximately 250,000 inhabitants, is located in the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia, directly on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. Known as the residence of Charlemagne — Aachen Cathedral with Charlemagne's Octagon and his marble throne is a UNESCO World Heritage site. RWTH Aachen University, the University Hospital, the CHIO equestrian tournament, and the Charlemagne Prize make Aachen one of the most prominent locations in Western Germany.