Two Days, Two Formats, One Statement
The LISTEN TO BERLIN: AWARDS and YOUTH FESTIVAL are a core part of MW:M26 again this year. On 3 November, the people shaping Berlin’s music industry gather at Kesselhaus der Kulturbrauerei for the eleventh LISTEN TO BERLIN: AWARDS. On 4 November, the focus moves to the next generation: the LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH FESTIVAL at the nhow Hotel and House of Music brings music creators aged 14 to 25 together with professionals from every corner of the industry.
Two days, two formats, one point: Berlin’s music ecosystem runs on the people clearing new paths and the ones ready to walk them.
“Berlin’s music ecosystem stays strong only as long as it stays open enough to keep reinventing itself. That’s why, at Berlin Music Commission, backing the next generation isn’t a side project. It’s the core work. With LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH we open up access to knowledge, networks and professionals, and give young people room to figure things out for themselves. That’s how a music industry stays alive, diverse and built to last.”
— Olaf “Gemse” Kretschmar, Managing Director, Berlin Music Commission
🏆 LISTEN TO BERLIN: AWARDS 2026
Attitude, resilience, work.
Awarded by Berlin Music Commission since 2015, presented by Berliner Sparkasse. The LISTEN TO BERLIN: AWARDS honour the people, projects, initiatives and companies shaping, strengthening and rethinking Berlin’s music scene. Not only creative work, but above all the work being done for future-proof structures, diversity and social responsibility.
On 3 November 2026, the eleventh ceremony takes place at Kesselhaus der Kulturbrauerei, in cooperation with MW:M26 as the festive opening of the Convention week. Winners receive 2,000 euros each; further nominees on the shortlist receive 1,000 euros each.
The Shortlist 2026
Rolf Budde Award for Integrity in the Music Industry — Die Weiße Rose · Mariybu feat. Ebow · SO36
Supported by Budde Music.
Award for Future-Oriented Business Practice — act aware · Elle & L’s Festival · Loft Concerts
Award for Music Journalism and Podcasts — Aida Baghernejad · Berlin pupils for “Musikalische Stolpersteine” · Sinem Derya Kiliç
LISTEN TO BERLIN: ARTIST AWARD — DammyDaas · MIN t · piya
Three distinct voices from the current LISTEN TO BERLIN: COMPILATION 2026/27.
LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH AWARD — GREIF · Lina Marie · Paoline Magnus
The three YOUTH artists from the current compilation.
Public Award for the Best Song by a Berlin Act — Voting opens 19 October via listen-to-berlin.de.
Berlin Music Commission Honorary Award — Announced on the evening of the ceremony.
The Jury 2026
Bisseh Akamé · Juliane Fiedler · Gudrun Gut · Olaf Kretschmar · Helge Krosch · Moses Mawila · Kerstin Mayer · Maximilian Paproth · Li Smilgies
All Info on LISTEN TO BERLIN: AWARDS 2026
🎓 LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH FESTIVAL 2026
Your way into the music industry. Third edition.
Since launching in 2024, LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH has grown into a standalone, Europe-wide unique platform for emerging talent, with a summit focused on career orientation and a showcase for young newcomer artists. In 2024 and 2025 combined, over 1,700 young people applied. In 2026 the format was recognised with the HYPE & FRIENDS Young Professional Support Award.
On 4 November, the third edition takes place. Two chapters, two locations, one shared goal: opening up professional access to the music industry for young people aged 14 to 25, and giving their music a stage.
“We built the programme to create closeness. At the nhow we have more rooms for workshops, parallel sessions, networking and real conversations. The point is to build bridges to professionals, and at the same time encourage young people to go out and get their own hands-on experience. Participants shouldn’t just hear how the music industry works. They should ask questions, make contacts and figure out for themselves what fits them.”
— Dr Nadine Müller, Project Lead and Curator, LISTEN TO BERLIN
YOUTH SUMMIT — nhow Hotel, 10:00–16:30
New to it and already right in it. Running alongside the MW:M Convention: workshops, panels and conversation formats on career paths and ways into the industry. From A&R and artist development to music publishing and rights, from game audio to DIY careers. Not top-down programming, but closeness — in direct exchange with professionals from Universal Music, Epic Records | Sony Music, Budde Music, AEG, BIMM University Berlin, HYPE & FRIENDS and more.
YOUTH SHOWCASE — House of Music, from 17:00
Newcomer support on stage: strong bands, and a strong network behind them.
After the Summit, things continue on the RAW-Gelände. Behind each of the thirteen names on stage stands an institution, a label, a university or a community making Berlin’s emerging music happen: albe.musicgroup, BIMM University Berlin, mePro | ORWOhaus, SRH University, Statthaus Böcklerpark, LOCAL HEROES, Rausgegangen, Die Weiße Rose and LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH.
The Line-up
- DeadHeadz · mePro | ORWOhaus
- Egon Werler · Rausgegangen
- FIRECRACKERS · Statthaus Böcklerpark
- GREIF · LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH
- Infinity Warlords · albe.musicgroup
- Isaac Jensen · LOCAL HEROES
- Lina Marie · LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH
- NOY · SRH University
- oktobernatt · BIMM University Berlin
- Oleek · BIMM University Berlin
- Paoline Magnus · LISTEN TO BERLIN: YOUTH
- Pinkpool · Die Weiße Rose
- Wildflowers · BIMM University Berlin
Thanks to our funders, sponsors and partners, the YOUTH Festival is free. Tickets are limited.
All Info on the YOUTH FESTIVAL
How to Be Part of It
The LISTEN TO BERLIN: AWARDS 2026 take place as the festive opening of MW:M26 Convention week on 3 November at Kesselhaus der Kulturbrauerei. The YOUTH FESTIVAL happens 4 November at nhow Hotel and House of Music, free entry, limited tickets.