BERLIN.- This year, the Freunde der Nationalgalerie (Friends of the National Gallery) are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Preis der Nationalgalerie (Prize of the National Gallery). Since its foundation in 2000, the prize has been an important museum award that recognises artistic positions that have had a decisive influence on contemporary art and presents them to a broad public in Berlin.

The Preis der Nationalgalerie has always seen itself as a recognition that reflects the vital international art scene and transfer it into an institutional context. In this spirit, the prize in 2026 will remain flexible and open for changes and will be continued in a new format at Neue Nationalgalerie.

From 2026, artists who set international standards and whose work has not yet been comprehensively presented in Berlin, will be honoured in the form of a solo exhibition. The change of location places contemporary art in dialogue with the collection of the Neue Nationalgalerie and its history. The iconic hall of the Mies van der Rohe building provides the ideal setting for a concise, artistic setting. The exhibition is made possible by a fixed budget financed by the Freunde der Nationalgalerie.

"We are very proud that the Preis der Nationalgalerie has been able to establish itself as one of the most important art prizes over the past 25 years and that the prizewinners have been able to set important impulses with their work both nationally and internationally. The prize has always been characterised by its ability to react positively to changes in the interests of the museum, the artists and the public. This has not only maintained its relevance over the decades, but also increased it. We look forward to the next stage of development," says Christian Kohorst, Chairman of the Freunde der Nationalgalerie.

The winner will be announced at the end of October 2025 – the exhibition will open in September 2026 during Berlin Art Week.

The expert jury for the Preis der Nationalgalerie 2026 is made up of outstanding international directors: Emma Lavigne (Director of the Pinault Collection, Paris) and Sam Keller (Director of the Fondation Beyeler, Riehen) as well as Klaus Biesenbach (Director of the Neue Nationalgalerie). In addition to the expert jurors, the curators of the Nationalgalerie and the members of the Freunde der Nationalgalerie were asked to nominate candidates.

The Preis der Nationalgalerie was established at a time when contemporary art in Berlin received significantly less support. Today, Berlin is one of the most important production and presentation centres for contemporary art. With the move to the Neue Nationalgalerie, we want to present artists whose positions have helped shape Berlin – and who also have international appeal. The aim is to place their works in a dialogue with the architecture of Mies van der Rohe and thus create a link between the collection, art history and contemporary art," says Klaus Biesenbach, Director of the Neue Nationalgalerie.

BMW has been a partner of the Preis der Nationalgalerie since 2006 and is reaffirming its commitment to this important award in the future.

"The internationally renowned Preis der Nationalgalerie has, for 25 years, demonstrated how art can shape social debates and open up new perspectives. It stands for innovation, creativity, and cultural diversity – values that are deeply rooted in the BMW Group. Together with our partners, we are delighted that art can unfold its impact far beyond the museum space," says Alexander Bilgeri, Vice President Corporate Communica- tions. BMW Group.