The Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer der Folkwang Universität der Künste e.V. (GFFF) has been awarding the Folkwang Award to outstanding young artists at the university every year since 1958. The laureates include greats such as Pina Bausch (1958) and photojournalist Guido Mangold (1960).
12. July 2026 | 17.00 hrs | Campus Essen-Werden | New Auditorium
Admission 15€ | reduced 8€
Advance ticket sales via the Folkwang Agentur
In the MUSIC category
Ajda Zala Obreza (flute | class of Prof. Anne-Cathérine Heinzmann)
Ziyin Wang (percussion | class of Prof. Dr. hab. Katarzyna Mycka)
In the category COMPOSITION
Jiaying He
In the category MUSICOLOGY
In the category PERFORMING ARTS
In the category DESIGN
This year's special award winners are:
INGRID GIRARDET AWARD FOR YOUNG TALENTS
Yu-Ting Su (Piano | Prof. Hisako Kawamura)
DR. ALFRED HOFF SPECIAL AWARD FOR THE PROMOTION OF YOUNG PIANISTS
Donggyu Lee (piano | class of Prof. Barbara Maurer)
DANCE AWARD OF THE JOSEF AND ELSE CLASSEN FOUNDATION
At the Folkwang Award Gala, the awardwinners present their top-class contributions in the fields of music, musicology, design and performing arts. Awards are also awarded annually in the categories of jazz and composition. The Gisèle Freund Award for Theory and History of Photography is awarded every two years. In addition, the Dr. Alfred Hoff Special Award for the Promotion of Young Pianists, the Ingrid Girardet Award for the Promotion of Young Talent and the Josef and Else Classen Foundation Dance Award are awarded annually.