Proposals can now be submitted for the Chemnitz Peace Prize 2026. The prize was announced during the opening of this year's Intercultural Weeks. All Chemnitz residents, associations and initiatives are invited to nominate suitable individuals, projects or initiatives by 7 January 2026. Self-applications are also possible.
Applications and suggestions should be sent to
Bürgerverein FUER CHEMNITZ e. V., Straße der Nationen 45, 09111 Chemnitz, e-mail: bv-fuer-chemnitz(at)gmx.de or
Migration Officer of the City of Chemnitz, Moritzhof Citizens' and Administration Centre, Bahnhofstraße 53, 09111 Chemnitz, e-mail: migrationsbeauftragte(at)stadt-chemnitz.de
Proposals and applications should include a justification as to why the proposed person or project is being nominated for the Chemnitz Peace Prize.
The Chemnitz Peace Prize has been awarded by the Bürgerverein FUER CHEMNITZ e. V. and the City of Chemnitz Migration Commissioner since 2004. The aim of the award is to promote more commitment to peace and to highlight existing efforts.
It honours people, organisations, projects and initiatives that actively advocate tolerance, democracy and respectful coexistence, that promote the integration of different cultures, that are committed to combating exclusion, xenophobia and racism, that support non-violent coexistence and that are role models in their commitment to peace and justice.
The jury that decides on the award is made up of personalities from politics, society, the church, culture and business. It examines the proposals submitted, visits the projects, discusses the nominations and decides on the winners.
The first prize is endowed with 500 euros, the second with 300 euros and the third with 200 euros. The children's and youth prize comes with 300 euros. The first prize and a possible honorary prize will also be honoured with the sculpture "Chemnitz Peace Prize" by sculptor Erik Neukirchner.
Award ceremony 2026
The award ceremony is planned for 5 March 2026, probably in the town hall. It is part of Chemnitz Peace Day, on which the inhumane, hostile policies of fascist Germany, the victims of the war it unleashed and the destruction of the city of Chemnitz in 1945 are commemorated every year in Chemnitz. In 2026, Peace Day will be celebrated for the 25th time under the motto "Peace for the City - A City for Peace." On and around this day, there will once again be many opportunities to remember, reflect and think about war and peace. The focus will be on revitalising the idea of peace, motivating all generations in the city to actively work for peace and dealing with these issues in a cultural way.
A look back at the 2025 award winners
In 2025, the first prize was awarded to the "Kältebus Chemnitz" initiative, which is committed to helping homeless people on a voluntary basis. The second prize went to the Mittel-Punkt e. V. association, which places people in need of help and assistance at the centre of its work and supports them, particularly in difficult life situations. The third prize was awarded to the civil society initiative "Omas und Opas gegen Rechts", which campaigns for the preservation of parliamentary democracy, the safeguarding of social standards and equal rights for all people.
The honorary prize was awarded to historian Dr Thomas Schuler, long-time director of the Schlossberg Museum, for his decades-long and diverse commitment. The "Democracy Group of the Lower Luisen School" was honoured with the Children and Youth Prize.