Solinger Theater- und Kabarettpreis 2026

Every two years, the Walder Theatertage, in cooperation with the City of Solingen, presents the Solingen Theater and Cabaret Award to honor outstanding artistic achievements. 

This year, an outstanding wordsmith and cabaret artist is being honored with the grand prize: Thomas Philipzen. We are recognizing an artist who has been delighting audiences in Germany since 1988 with his first solo show. 

Since 2025, he has been touring with his eighth cabaret program, “Hirn in Teilzeit.” As a host, he has appeared in over 40 variety productions. Thomas Philipzen captivates his listeners and audiences alike with his verbal artistry, his overwhelming facial expressions, and his body language. The multi-award-winning cabaret artist has been delighting audiences for decades with his unmistakable wit, musical exuberance, and astute perspective on political and social issues.

Panagiota Petridou will provide the glamorous setting for the 2026 awards ceremony, guiding the evening as host with charm, spontaneity, and humor. 
Together with the new award winner and other verbal acrobats, a varied program will take shape that celebrates the diversity of cabaret and the art of words—sharp, surprising, and guaranteed to be entertaining.

In the “Standout” category, two artists will be honored this year who, in very different ways, demonstrate just how diverse contemporary spoken word art can be:Sascha Thamm and Laura Brümmer