Overview
- Koch received the 27th Erich-Kästner-Preis from the Presseclub Dresden at Schloss Albrechtsberg on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
- The award carries a €10,000 endowment that Koch says he will split evenly between the inclusive arts group Dresdner farbwerk and his own association Samuel Koch & Freunde.
- Laudator Kirsten Fehrs praised Koch for speaking about hope without glossing over reality and said his voice gives people a needed sense of confidence.
- Koch became quadriplegic after a 2010 accident on the TV show Wetten, dass..? yet completed his acting studies in 2014 and has worked since 2019 through Samuel Koch & Freunde to push for barrier-free access in culture and leisure.
- The prize signals broader civic recognition for disability advocacy in Germany and could boost local projects that improve physical access, inclusive programming, and support for people who assist others in emergencies.