Zurich Journalism Prize 2026: Twelve works nominated
The Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation has nominated twelve outstanding journalistic works for 2026. From 201 submissions, the seven-member expert jury selected nine entries for the main category and three for the Newcomer Award. The awards ceremony will take place on May 12, 2026, at the «Kaufleuten» in Zurich.
Since 1980, the Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation has honored texts that are remembered beyond the day and stand for outstanding journalism. This year, the seven-member jury of experts from various Swiss media companies considered 201 entries.
Nine nominations in the main category
Nine journalistic works were nominated in the main category: Sandro Büchler with «Umweltskandal am Bodensee» from the St. Galler Tagblatt, Tina Berg, Emmanuel K. Dogbevi and Hans Ariëns with «Die Schweizer Klimastrategie scheitert» from the Beobachter and Tuğba Ayaz with «Eine Sprache für den Schmerz» from the Republik. Also nominated are Jennifer Steiner and Adrienne Fichter with «Warum Palantir zum Risiko für die Schweiz wird» from the Republik, Andreas Babst with «Die Fänger im Bambus» from the NZZ and Karin Wenger with «Weg vom Schuss» from the Annabelle.
Other nominations went to Sascha Britsko and Oliver Zihlmann for «I praised her because she had such a good ass» from Das Magazin, and to Janique Weder and Florian Schoop for «I won't be taken for a fool»: Shopping tourists rebel against the high prices in Switzerland. Are they heroes - or traitors to the country?» from the NZZ and to Samuel Ryter with «Kronen-Recherche: Das Geisterhaus im Alpstein» from the Appenzeller Zeitung. Three of these works were awarded the Zurich Journalism Prize of CHF 10,000 each.
Newcomer award with three nominations
Three texts were nominated for the Newcomer Award: Hanna Hubacher with «Viele stimmen unter starken Schmerzen zu» - die Schweiz zieht Geflüchteten die Zähne» from Watson, Nino Preuss with «Maxim haut ab» from Das Magazin and Konstantin Kreibich with «Sie belogen die Ermittler - er wurde Multimilliardär» from Zentralplus. One of these three works will be awarded the Newcomer Prize of CHF 5,000.
Award ceremony in May
The award ceremony will take place on May 12, 2026 in Zurich's «Kaufleuten». The program will be hosted by Foundation Board President Nina Jecker and jury member Larissa Rhyn. The guest speech will be given by ethics professor Peter G. Kirchschläger on the topic of «AI - the end or new beginning of human work? An ethical consideration».
The Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation is supported by the four media companies CH Media, NZZ, Ringier and Tamedia. In addition, well-known companies and institutions support the event with financial contributions.
