Bamberg honors Jochen Neurath with the 2025 Cultural Promotion Prize!

Bamberg honors Jochen Neurath with the 2025 Cultural Promotion Prize!

On November 11, 2025, an important award was presented in Bamberg: The 2025 Cultural Promotion Prize went to Jochen Neurath, an innovative composer and cultural networker. Neurath impresses with his unique approach to music, often using everyday sounds instead of classical instruments. He combines these original sounds with space and performance, which offers listeners a very special experience. Neurath heads the “nonoise” association, which has set itself the task of bringing new music to unusual places and making it accessible to a wide audience. In its justification, the jury praised Neurath's interdisciplinary projects as innovative, location-related and socially relevant. For his outstanding work, Neurath will receive a prize of 6,000 euros, which will alternate with the E.T.A. Hoffmann Prize. This prize honors artists who enrich Bamberg's cultural life with their new ideas. Radio Bamberg reports.

But there is news not only in culture. On the same day, the voter group “Bamberg's Independent Citizens” presented its list for the upcoming city council election in 2026. Karin Einwag was unanimously elected as the top candidate. With their motto “Bamberg can do more” they want to achieve a policy change and a middle-class majority in the town hall.

Media and cultural scene in flux

The media landscape in Bavaria is also experiencing upheaval. The Bavarian media group has taken over the Upper Franconian media group, making it the largest regional newspaper publisher in the Free State. The Bavaria media group already includes well-known publications such as the Passauer Neue Presse, the Donaukurier and the Mittelbayerische Zeitung, while the Fränkischer Tag and the Bayerische Rundschau are now also new.

Another highlight for culture in Bamberg is the upcoming 11th Bamberg Literature Festival, which will take place in the city and district from mid-January 2026. Over the last ten years, over 70,000 visitors have taken part in the festival. District Administrator Johann Kalb was proud of the increasing number of visitors and interest in the event.

Carnival start in Bamberg

And don't forget: The carnival season began in the Bamberg district on November 11th. District Administrator Johann Kalb symbolically handed over the key to the local carnival clubs and groups, who can look forward to a colorful and exuberant carnival season.

The cultural activities in Bamberg show once again that there is a lot going on in the city and that there is a keen interest in art, music and community. Whether through innovative projects, political innovations or captivating festivals – the citizens of Bamberg can prepare for exciting times.