10th edition of the district-sponsored art award – 8 nominated artists, €6,000 prize money, exhibition at Galerie im Saalbau
For fifteen years, Neukölln has been one of Berlin's most important districts for contemporary art. The gallery scene around Weserstraße, the Reuterkiez studio house, and the many off-spaces have made the south of Berlin an international hotspot for young art. The Neuköllner Kunstpreis is the district's effort to honor this scene.
A panel of six established curators, artists, and critics annually selects eight artists who live or work in Neukölln. Their works are exhibited at the Galerie im Saalbau on Karl-Marx-Straße – a district exhibition venue that showcases around 8–10 exhibitions of contemporary Berlin art each year.
Three main prizes totaling €6,000 in prize money: 1st Prize €3,000 (in 2026 awarded to Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi), 2nd Prize €2,000 (Selma Laura Köran), 3rd Prize €1,000 (Maryna Makarenko). Additionally, a purchase award from STADT UND LAND Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft, which went to Anita Esfandiari in 2026.
The eight nominees for 2026: Rula Ali, Anita Esfandiari, Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, Uladzimir Hramovich, Selma Laura Köran, Maryna Makarenko, muSa michelle mattiuzzi, and Tatsuma Takeda. An internationally and diversely composed selection that reflects the actual spectrum of Neukölln's contemporary art.
The award ceremony on February 13th will take place at Heimathafen Neukölln – one of the district's most important venues for theater, concerts, and political events. The subsequent exhibition runs from February 14th to April 19th at the Galerie im Saalbau, a few hundred meters further south on Karl-Marx-Straße. The finissage in mid-April marks the end of the two-month exhibition period.
The 10th anniversary edition of the Neuköllner Kunstpreis begins on February 13th, 2026, with the award ceremony at Heimathafen Neukölln. A panel of six curators, artists, and critics has nominated eight Neukölln-based artists. The prize winners for 2026: 1st Prize (€3,000) Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 2nd Prize (€2,000) Selma Laura Köran, 3rd Prize (€1,000) Maryna Makarenko, STADT UND LAND Purchase Award to Anita Esfandiari.
From February 14th, the works of all eight nominees will be shown as a group exhibition at Galerie im Saalbau on Emser Straße. Free admission, opening hours Tuesday to Sunday 10 AM–8 PM. Finissage in mid-April with an artist tour.
Detailed program and dates for accompanying events at galerie-im-saalbau.de.
Subway lines U7 Karl-Marx-Straße or Rathaus Neukölln, both about a 5-minute walk to Galerie im Saalbau (Emser Str. 117) and Heimathafen (Karl-Marx-Str. 141).
Award ceremony Feb 13th, 2026: free admission, registration recommended. Exhibition Galerie im Saalbau Feb 14th–Apr 19th, 2026: free admission, Tue–Sun 10 AM–8 PM.
District Office Neukölln, Department of Culture, with Galerie im Saalbau.
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Heimathafen Neukölln (Preisverleihung) + Galerie im Saalbau (Ausstellung)
Karl-Marx-Straße 141, 12043 Berlin