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In a special ceremonial act, the civil rights activist Maria Kalesnikava was personally presented with the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, which had been awarded to her in absentia in 2022, on Saturday, 14 March 2026. The prize was handed over by her sister, Tatsiana Khomich. The Belarusian opposition figure and musician had been released from political imprisonment in Belarus in December 2025. In Aachen’s Coronation Hall, representatives from politics, civil society and culture paid tribute to her commitment to democracy, human rights and a free Belarus.

On 17 February, a delegation from Aachen, led by Armin Laschet and Lord Mayor Dr Michael Ziemons, officially presented Mario Draghi with the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen. At the residence of the German Ambassador to Italy, Dr Thomas Bagger, Draghi's strategic contribution to European economic and industrial policy was honoured. The award ceremony will take place on 14 May 2026 in Aachen.

As part of the Munich Security Conference, the Internationaler Karlspreis zu Aachen, together with the Conference of European Rabbis and the Abraham Accords Institute Germany, convened a high-level dialogue on resisting antisemitism, destructive ideologies and foreign interference. Among the participants were Charlemagne Prize laureate Maria Kalesnikava and Charlemagne Prize laureate Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt. In a further panel discussion with our Chairman of the Board, Armin Laschet, on the responsibility of prize institutions in a politicised world, one message became clear: awards are far more than ceremony – they can take a stand and strengthen resilience.

We are pleased to announce that we received 531 applications for the European Charlemagne Youth Prize. Many thanks to everyone who submitted a project! Each year, the Prize recognises young people’s projects that promote democracy and active citizenship and bring people together. The award ceremony will take place on 12 May in Aachen.

The 2026 European Charlemagne Youth Prize once again honours dedicated young people who, through innovative projects, live and strengthen the European idea. Applications may be submitted until 2 February 2026.

The Charlemagne Prize Society is opening a new chapter in its history: after more than three decades as a defining figure of the Charlemagne Prize, Dr Jürgen Linden is handing over the chairmanship of the Board of Directors to Armin Laschet, Member of the German Parliament (MdB) and former Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia. Alongside the Deputy Chairpersons, Dr Angela Maas and Christoph Schmallenbach, Laschet will further strengthen the European idea in the spirit of the Charlemagne Prize Society.