Nominations for the 2027 Chemnitz Peace Prize can now be submitted. The prize was announced on Saturday at the opening of this year’s Intercultural Weeks. All residents of Chemnitz, as well as local organisations and initiatives, are invited to nominate suitable individuals and projects. Self-nominations are also accepted.
The deadline for applications is 5 January 2027.
The Chemnitz Peace Prize is a civil society award in which the city’s residents select the winners from among their own ranks. The prize honours individuals, organisations, projects and initiatives that, on a voluntary and sustainable basis,
- advocate for fundamental values such as tolerance and democracy,
- who regard the integration of different cultures as an essential part of living together,
- who take a stand against all forms of exclusion, xenophobia and racism,
- are actively engaged in peace work,
- promote and support non-violent coexistence, and
- who, through their actions, set an example in their commitment to peace and justice.
The prize has been awarded since 2004 by the Bürgerverein FUER CHEMNITZ e. V. and the City of Chemnitz’s Migration Officer.
Applications and nominations should be sent to: Bürgerverein FUER CHEMNITZ e. V., Straße der Nationen 45, 09111 Chemnitz, email: bv-fuer-chemnitz(at)gmx.de or Migration Commissioner of the City of Chemnitz, Moritzhof Citizens’ and Administration Centre, Bahnhofstraße 53, 09111 Chemnitz, email: migrationsbeauftragte(at)stadt-chemnitz.de.
Proposals and applications should include a statement explaining why the proposed person or project is being nominated for the Chemnitz Peace Prize.
The jury, which decides on the award, is made up of prominent figures from the worlds of politics, society, the church, culture and business. It reviews the submitted proposals, visits the projects, discusses the nominations and decides on the prize winners.
The first prize is worth 500 euros, the second 300 euros and the third 200 euros. The Children’s and Youth Prize carries a prize of 300 euros. The first prize, as well as the Honorary Prize – which is awarded only occasionally – are additionally honoured with the ‘Chemnitz Peace Prize’ sculpture by the sculptor Erik Neukirchner.
Award Ceremony
The prize-giving ceremony will take place on 3 March 2027 at the Town Hall, coinciding with Chemnitz Peace Day, which is commemorated annually on 5 March in Chemnitz to mark the inhuman, hostile policies of fascist Germany, the victims of the war it unleashed, and the destruction of the city of Chemnitz in 1945. On 5 March and the days leading up to and following it, there are many opportunities for remembrance, for reflection and for further contemplation on war and peace. The focus is on reviving the spirit of peace, motivating all generations in our city to engage in active peace work, and addressing these issues in a culturally sensitive manner.
The Chemnitz Peace Prize is intended to build on this, to highlight commitment to peace and to encourage greater engagement in peace-building.
Review
In 2026, the jury selected the following winners from among the nominees for the 2026 Chemnitz Peace Prize: First prize was awarded to the association “Iranian Home” Chemnitz e. V. for its commitment to a life of freedom for all people and to the peaceful coexistence of people of different origins and religions.
The second prize was awarded to the project “ANDERSDENKEN – Citizen Participation in Political Decision-Making and Decision-Forming Processes for People with Disabilities’, run by the ASB Ortsverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e. V., which is dedicated to enabling genuine political participation for people with special needs and to providing sustainable impetus for an inclusive future.
The third prize was awarded to Hannelore Krauß in recognition of her decades-long, tireless, cross-generational and multifaceted commitment – literally with a great deal of heart – to peaceful and friendly coexistence in the city of Chemnitz.
The Youth Prize went to the Chemnitz Youth Forum, which works creatively with and for young people, drawing on their own ideas to benefit the city, thereby actively, sustainably and effectively fostering youth participation.