Harald Martenstein wins 2026 German Language Prize for bold commentary
KASSEL. The Henning Kaufmann Foundation for the German Language has awarded journalist and author Harald Martenstein the 2026 German Language Prize. Citing the foundation, Die Zeit described Martenstein as one of the most distinguished commentators on political, cultural, and everyday affairs. The €10,000 prize will be presented to him in Kassel on June 12, with German Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) delivering the laudatory speech.
The foundation's statement praised Martenstein for mastering his "journalistic craft with expertise" while upholding a sense of responsibility for the German language. His writing was described as contemporary, witty, and reflective—at times sarcastic—yet "never constrained by the straitjacket of political correctness." This uncompromising stance, the foundation noted, has also made him a target of criticism.
Martenstein currently writes a column for Bild. Until 2026, he contributed to Die Zeit, where some of his pieces were also recorded for broadcast by public broadcaster RBB. In early February, he revealed that RBB had at times refused to air his columns (Junge Freiheit reported on the matter).
2022: Martenstein's Falling-Out with Der Tagesspiegel
Until 2022, Martenstein also wrote for Der Tagesspiegel, but he left the paper after its editorial team disavowed and deleted one of his articles. In the piece, the now 72-year-old argued that wearing Yellow Stars at anti-lockdown protests was "presumptuous and trivializing" but "certainly not antisemitic," as the wearers identified with persecuted Jews rather than rejecting them.
Last week, Martenstein sparked debate with a speech at the theatrical production "Trial Against Germany" (read the full speech here). In his remarks, he accused supporters of banning the far-right AfD party of undermining democracy. (lb)
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