Selection 2026

This year’s selection features a relatively young group of musicians, bringing together artists from major cities as well as smaller towns and rural areas. This year, songs with German-language lyrics predominate.

The selection stands out for its artistic individuality. Many of the musicians are multi-instrumentalists and produce their own tracks. Some of the young talents display an impressive stylistic range and an exceptionally high standard of songwriting. The genres represented include hip-hop and rap, singer-songwriter pop, indie pop, indie rock, punk, funk rock, electronic and ambient music, new wave, as well as cross-genre and experimental approaches. The entries range from German-language chansons and pop ballads to English-language acoustic indie and contemporary productions incorporating lo-fi, R&B and electronic influences.

What is particularly striking is the fresh and contemporary approach to different musical styles. Many of the selected musicians have developed a distinctive sound of their own and impress with creative arrangements, precisely judged instrumentation and a remarkable sense of musical structure and development. They often achieve a powerful artistic impact with relatively simple means.

The selected songs reflect the themes, questions and contradictions that concern young people today. The musicians explore social developments, anxieties about the future and the search for direction. Feminist perspectives, self-determination, gender roles, manipulation and social injustice feature alongside questions about the climate and the future. These subjects are often approached through humour and irony or explored in dark and macabre scenarios.

At the same time, highly personal themes take centre stage: friendship, love, disappointment, longing and the challenges of growing up. Other entries explore the musicians’ intense relationship with music itself, capturing both its inspirational power and its capacity to become all-consuming.

We would like to thank all the musicians who applied to take part in the 2026 Treffen junge Musikszene. The creativity, quality and diversity of the music submitted made the jury’s task of selecting the award winners far from easy.

We wish all the young musicians every success on their musical journeys and look forward to hearing from you again next year!