MUNICH. “The Bavarian Art Prize in the Creative Work category goes to the internationally renowned jazz musician Michael Wollny.” This was announced today in Munich by Markus Blume, Minister for the Arts. “Jazz has a Bavarian ambassador! Michael Wollny demonstrates just how exciting it can be when musical skill meets boundless curiosity: at times he sets off a veritable fireworks display of sound; at others, he captivates his audience with the finest nuances and almost ethereal tones. His fingers master the piano, his imagination knows almost no bounds: the result is an unmistakable style that sets international standards. Wollny shows that jazz is far more than just a genre: it is an invitation to discover new things, to push boundaries and to allow oneself to be surprised. A native of Schweinfurt who captivates the world. This body of work deserves the Bavarian Art Prize – congratulations!”, said Blume.

A grand stage for Bavaria’s arts scene at the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk in Munich

The Bavarian Art Prize honours outstanding achievements and special contributions to the arts and cultural landscape in Bavaria across a total of eight categories: Exhibition, Voice, Creative Work, Innovation, Programme, Cultural Ambassador, Performance and Special Venue. In addition, there is the Bavarian Minister-President’s honorary prize, which carries no monetary award. The Bavarian Art Prize carries a prize of 10,000 euros per category and is awarded by the Bavarian Minister for the Arts on the recommendation of an expert jury. The expert jury for the Bavarian Art Prize comprises representatives from various cultural and media sectors, including Angelika Diekmann (Mediengruppe Bayern GmbH), Anna Kleeblatt (Initiative Kulturzukunft Bayern), Ellen Trapp (Bayerischer Rundfunk), Franz Löffler (Bavarian District Council), Katrin Bittl (University Council of the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich), Mon Muellerschoen (MM-Artmanagement), Nora-Eugenie Gomringer (International Artists’ House Villa Concordia), Susanne Hermanski (Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH) and Till Hofmann (Münchner Lustspielhaus).
The awards ceremony will take place on 12 November 2026 at the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk in Munich. Bayerischer Rundfunk is the media partner and will broadcast the event live from 7.00 pm on the BR Channel via the ARD Mediathek. The event will also be broadcast on BR Fernsehen on 15 November 2026. The ceremony will be presented by Vivian Perkovic, presenter of 3sat’s *Kulturzeit*.
Minister for the Arts Markus Blume emphasises: “The anticipation is growing with every passing day: on 12 November, the Bavarian arts scene will gather at the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk for its grand gala evening. Then it’s time to make way for extraordinary talent, powerful voices and special venues. I’m looking forward to meeting the award winners in person and celebrating their achievements together with them. The countdown is on!”

Michael Wollny: A Franconian of world-class standing!

Michael Wollny is one of the most acclaimed German pianists of his generation, both nationally and internationally. His hallmark: the ability to create something entirely new and unique from a wide variety of musical influences – ranging from jazz, through early and contemporary music, to pop and film scores. Wollny seeks out and finds the magic of the moment. His music is created anew at every concert and on every recording; nothing happens twice. This is also the case in his current programme “eine winterreise”, in which he re-explores the thematic world of Schubert’s classic in his very own way.

Michael Wollny was born in Schweinfurt in 1978, received his musical training in Franconia and, from 1997, studied at the Würzburg University of Music under Chris Beier. He completed his artistic diploma with distinction in 2002, followed by his masterclass diploma in 2004. Today, the internationally renowned jazz pianist performs as a soloist, in a trio and with renowned orchestras on stages across Europe, the USA and Asia. His musical partners include greats such as Heinz Sauer, Nils Landgren and Emile Parisien. The fusion of jazz and classical music also shapes his work: he has performed with, amongst others, the pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard and has appeared as a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. As a composer, he writes for renowned concert institutions and orchestras. He is also a professor at the ‘Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’ University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig.
Wollny has received numerous awards for his artistic work, including eight ECHO Jazz Awards, the SWR Jazz Prize, the German Record Critics’ Prize, the Bavarian Art Promotion Prize, the Bavarian Music Prize and, in 2015, the title of ‘European Jazz Musician of the Year’ from the Académie du Jazz.

Source: Press release from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts