Overview

• The annual survey polled 47 critics, with Magdeburg receiving a field‑leading six votes.
• Berlin’s Volksbühne and the Staatstheater Wiesbaden followed as joint runners‑up with four votes each.
• Jurors cited a three‑person leadership team and a first invitation to Berlin’s Theatertreffen for Jan Friedrichs “Blutbuch” as markers of momentum.
• Florentina Holzinger’s “Sancta” was named Production of the Year with nine votes, and Nikola Knežević earned Stage Design of the Year for the same work.
• Dea Loher’s “Frau Yamamoto ist noch da” took Play of the Year, while Julia Riedler and Andreas Döhler, Moritz Kienemann, Thomas Schmauser received acting honors, as many respondents criticized tightening cultural budgets.