"Since 1949, we in Germany have lived under the Basic Law – and sometimes we are tempted to believe that freedom is something to be taken for granted. But it is not. Freedom must be defended anew time and again. As a society, as citizens, we share the responsibility for ensuring that our liberal constitutional state remains alive.
The Johann-Philipp-Palm-Award serves as a reminder of this every two years. It honors people who, with great personal dedication, champion freedom of expression and press freedom – worldwide and often under the most difficult conditions. They are role models, and we want to help make their work visible while also raising awareness that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are not to be taken for granted.
The Award bears the name of Johann Philipp Palm. It commemorates a historical injustice that continues to drive us to this day. What incredibly good fortune it is to be able to live in a free constitutional state. This good fortune imposes an obligation on us. That is what the Johann-Philipp-Palm-Award stands for."
Prof. Ulrich Palm, May 2026
Programme for the Johann-Philipp-Palm Award 2026
Welcome
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Palm · Representative of the Palm family
Opening address by the patron
Cem Özdemir · Minister-President of the State of Baden-Württemberg
Laudatory speech in honour of Natalja Kljutscharjowa
Irina Scherbakowa · Historian, journalist and co-founder of Memorial
Award ceremony and personal remarks by the laureate
Natalja Kljutscharjowa · Russian writer and journalist
Laudatory speech in honour of Yahya Ekhou
Güner Yasemin Balcı · Journalist and Integration Officer for Berlin-Neukölln
Award ceremony and personal remarks by the award winner
Yahya Ekhou · Mauritanian lawyer and author
Talk with Natalja Kljutscharjowa and Yahya Ekhou
Jürgen Hörig · Presenter of the SWR Landesschau programme and musician
Signing in the "Goldene Buch der Stadt Schorndorf" and closing remarks
Bernd Hornikel · Lord Mayor of the City of Schorndorf
Joint closing statement: Song “Die Gedanken sind frei”
Following the event
Reception with finger food, book table with book-signing opportunity and school pupils’ exhibition in the foyer
Host
Jürgen Hörig
Music
Jürgen Hörig and Benny Eisel
Our Laureates
Palm-Preis 2026
Natalja Kljutscharjowa
Writer and journalist from Russia
„In her exploration of silence and the end of a world, Natalja Kljutscharjowa has shown courage and literary integrity.“
(Nomination statement by Carl Wilhelm Macke / Suhrkamp Verlag)
Natalja Kljutscharjowa, born 1981 in Perm, is a Russian writer and journalist. She has been publishing poetry and prose since 2002; her novels Endstation Russland (2010) and Dummendorf (2012) were published in German by Suhrkamp. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she kept a widely acclaimed diary and fled to Germany with her daughters in 2023. She has lived in Landshut ever since. Her Tagebuch vom Ende der Welt (Diary from the End of the World) was published by Suhrkamp in 2023. Even in exile, she remains committed to supporting people facing political persecution in Russia.
Palm-Preis 2026
Yahya Ekhou
Author, lawyer and human rights activist from Mauritania
“Yahya Ekhou represents a courageous commitment to freedom of expression. His life and work embody the values and spirit of the Johann-Philipp-Palm Award for Freedom of Expression and Press Freedom.”
(From the nomination statement by the Freedom of Expression Group at the German Publishers and Booksellers Association)
Yahya Ekhou (born 1990) founded the Network of Liberals in Mauritania and campaigned for secular reforms and the abolition of religiously based criminal laws. His commitment cost him both his freedom and his citizenship – in 2018, he was forced to leave his home country. In exile in Germany, he became chair of Secular Refugee Aid and a founding member of the Working Group on Political Islam (AK Polis). As an author, he describes his path between repression and freedom in Free People Cannot Be Tamed” (2022); Voices from the Silence (2025) gives a voice to marginalized women in Mauritania.
For Freedom. Against Violence.
We award the Palm-Award to women, men and organisations who demonstrate exceptional dedication to achieving freedom of expression and press freedom.
They should be encouraged – and they will motivate others through their example.
- The prize money amounts to €20,000 in total.
- It is awarded in equal shares to two individuals or organisations.
- The central award criterion is direct, ongoing and comprehensive commitment to freedom of expression and press freedom by peaceful means. The award recognises a lifetime of commitment.
- Balanced views and responsible reporting are expected. The Palm-Foundation represents the values of liberal democracy and universal human rights. It is independent and impartial.
- The award is granted every even-numbered year on the first Sunday of Advent in Schorndorf, Germany
![[Translate to English:] Natalja Kljutscharjowa, Preisträgerin des Johann-Philipp-Palm-Preises 2026](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/c/csm_004_Natalja_Kljutscharjowa_Preistr%C3%A4gerin_Palm-Preis_2026_9e03f5d9fd.jpg)
