Hape Kerkeling to receive Aachen carnival award

German entertainer Hape Kerkeling will be honored in Aachen with the traditional ‘Orden wider den tierischen Ernst’. The Aachen Carnival Association announced the award, which recognizes significant personalities.

Beyond his artistic body of work, the award recognizes Kerkeling’s commitment to an open and democratic society. The association highlighted his consistent stance against antisemitism and right-wing extremism. Andre Freese, the association's president, noted that Kerkeling demonstrates clear conviction and reminds society that human dignity is non-negotiable, even amidst increasingly sharp and divisive public debates.

Kerkeling, 61, is one of Germany’s most successful entertainers, known for characters such as Horst Schlämmer and Uschi Blum.