Iris Berben awarded German Culture Policy Prize 2026

Actress Iris Berben has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the German Culture Policy Prize, presented by the German Cultural Council. The award recognises her decades‑long activism against antisemitism, racism and right‑wing extremism, as well as her work promoting remembrance culture, the visibility of Jewish life and democratic education.

The prize ceremony will take place on 24 September at the State Library in Berlin, with pianist Igor Levit delivering the laudatory speech. Council managing director Olaf Zimmermann highlighted Berben’s “societal force” and her willingness to speak out where silence would be convenient. The prize, established in 2021, was last awarded to former culture minister Monika Grütters in 2025. Berben, 75, is known for roles in "Der Spitzname" and "Triangle of Sadness" among other film and television work.