When does the award ceremony take place?

The ceremony takes place on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Where will the Berganza Prize 2026 be awarded?

The venue is the Kesselhaus art space at Untere Sandstraße 42, 96047 Bamberg.

How much does admission cost?

Admission to the event is free.

Who will receive the Berganza Prize 2026?

The initiative Friend instead of Stranger will be honored for its long-standing, dedicated, and volunteer-driven efforts.

Who organizes the award ceremony?

The organizer is the Bamberg Art Association e.V.

Bamberg honors Friend instead of Stranger: An evening that makes encounters visible

Name: Berganza Prize 2026 to Friend instead of Stranger
Start: 2026-10-29T17:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-29T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Kunstraum Kesselhaus

Berganza Prize 2026: Bamberg honors lived encounters

On October 29, 2026, the Bamberg Art Association will award the Berganza Prize to the initiative Friend instead of Stranger. The award recognizes long-standing, dedicated, and volunteer-driven efforts for encounters, exchange, and cultural participation in Bamberg.

Culture that brings people together

Since 2011, Friend instead of Stranger has created spaces where people from different backgrounds can engage in conversation, learn from each other, and build community. The initiative understands culture as a living process: Encounters arise where people actively relate to one another.

An evening of social significance

The award ceremony connects art, commitment, and social cohesion. At the center is an initiative that turns foreignness into encounters and enriches Bamberg through educational offerings, advice, exchange, and cultural activities.

Atmosphere in the Kesselhaus Art Space

The Kesselhaus art space provides a special setting for this. The former building in the heart of Bamberg is now an exceptional place for contemporary art, readings, concerts, and discourse. The light-flooded rooms under the distinctive shed roof construction combine urban flair with an open atmosphere for art mediation and encounters.

Long-standing award of the art association

The Bamberg Art Association has existed since December 12, 1823, and is one of the oldest traditional art associations in Germany. The Berganza Prize has been awarded annually by the association since 1989 to artists or cultural creators or institutions from Bamberg that stand out for quality, passion, idealism, and sustainable commitment.

Conclusion: Experience encounters live

Visitors can expect a special event moment between art, recognition, and social engagement. Anyone wanting to experience how cultural participation and voluntary commitment shape a city will find an impressive occasion for listening, exchanging, and being present at this award ceremony.