German National Prize awarded to Herbert Grönemeyer
The musician is being honoured for his artistic importance and his clear stance in favour of an open society. The prize is endowed with 50,000 euros.
Hamburg (dpa) – German musician Herbert Grönemeyer has been awarded the 2026 German National Prize. The honour is in recognition of his outstanding lifetime achievement and his decades-long commitment to our democracy, said Thomas Mirow, Chair of the German National Foundation.
One of the most successful German-language musicians, Grönemeyer has long been active in opposing right-wing extremism. He achieved his breakthrough in 1984 with the album “4630 Bochum”. The 69-year-old will receive the German National Prize in June in Berlin. “A democracy offers enormously valuable freedoms, futures and humane perspectives – not an inch towards to the far right!” said Grönemeyer.
Mirow said that with his music and his lyrics, Grönemeyer had made an important contribution to the country’s culture: “His continued commitment to an open, free society and his credible advocacy of social justice have made him a role model for many people, too”.
The German National Prize has been presented by the German National Foundation every year since 1997 to individuals and organisations actively committed to a democratic society. It was stated that the accompanying sponsorship prize primarily recognised projects that promote social cohesion among young people. The award is endowed with a total of 50,000 euros.
