Angela Merkel and Jörg Widmann were honoured on 1 November 2026 in Leipzig with the International Mendelssohn Prize of Leipzig. The awards were presented at the Gewandhaus during the opening concert of the Mendelssohn Festival held each year around 4 November to mark the anniversary of the death of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and runs this year from 1 to 8 November.
The prize is awarded in two categories. The former Chancellor received the award in the Europe category. It recognised her public work in a European context, particularly her longstanding commitment to integration and understanding within the European Union. Composer and clarinettist Jörg Widmann received the award in the Music category. The jury highlighted his work as a composer and performer, as well as his commitment to contemporary music.
With its decision, the foundation is building on the prize’s established profile, which has brought together figures from politics and culture for years. Official statements say the prize is intended to highlight both musical excellence and the European ideal. Representatives of the Free State of Saxony and Leipzig cultural officials attended the ceremony.
The opening concert at the Gewandhaus was performed by Gewandhaus Orchestra The programme featured works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and contemporary music, including compositions by Jörg Widmann. Leipzig’s concert hall is a central venue for the Mendelssohn Festival, which brings together concerts, readings and educational events at various locations across the city.
The International Mendelssohn Prize of Leipzig commemorates Mendelssohn’s wide-ranging legacy as a composer, conductor and cultural ambassador for the German and European musical tradition. By awarding the prize jointly to a political figure and a musician, the selection committee is continuing its tradition of building bridges between culture, politics and collective memory. The prize carries no monetary award; symbolic recognition is its main purpose. Previous recipients have come from Germany and abroad.
This year’s ceremony adds a further highlight to the opening of the Mendelssohn Festival. Leipzig is thereby emphasising its role as a city with a rich musical heritage and as a forum for debate on Europe’s cultural foundations. The other events during festival week will focus on Mendelssohn’s works, new pieces by Jörg Widmann and performances by other contemporary artists.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).