Neuköllner Kunstpreis – Exhibition and Award Ceremony

A District That Celebrates Its Art

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.

The Format

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.

The Prizes 2026

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 Nominated Artists 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.

Heimathafen Neukölln and Galerie im Saalbau

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.