On Thursday 18 December 2025, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture announced the award categories and composition of the jury for the next edition of the Luxembourg Theatre Awards (Lëtzebuerger Bünepräisser), which will be held in December 2027.
At the end of the Lëtzebuerger Bünepräisser 2025, Luxembourg’s Minister of Culture, Eric Thill, met with the representatives of the performing arts sector, aiming to identify and jointly elaborate ways to optimise the award system, thereby guaranteeing a fairer assessment to the specificities of each of the disciplines. According to the ministry, these exchanges resulted in a redefinition of the prize categories and a reorganisation of the jury.
One of the main changes is the introduction of the Lëtzebuerger Bünepräis, which recognises the “exceptional contribution” of a personality from the performing arts and honours an entire career. This new award merges the former Luxembourg Theatre Prize and the Luxembourg Dance Prize.
To better recognise the specifics of each discipline, theatre and dance have been separated into specific categories. The awards will now feature Best Actor and Best Dancer prizes, as well as separate awards for Best Theatre Production and Best Dance Production. These prizes will be awarded to the director or choreographer of the winning production respectively.
Two new distinctions have also been introduced: the Best Dramatic Text award and the Jury Prize - Special Mention, which is awarded at the jury’s appreciation.
The total number of prizes will therefore increase from eight to ten. The Lëtzebuerger Bünepräisser 2027 will feature:
- Luxembourger Bünepräis, awarded without preselection to honour a lifetime career in the performing arts;
- Best Theatre Production, awarded to the director of the winning production;
- Best Dance Production, awarded to the choreographer of the winning production;
- Best Children’s and Youth Production, awarded to the director of a dance, theatre or musical theatre production for young audiences;
- Best Theatre Text, awarded to the author of a theatrical work premiered in Luxembourg during the two seasons under consideration;
- Young Talent, recognising the beginning of a promising career in the performing arts;
- Best Actor, awarded for an outstanding performance in a specific production;
- Best Dancer, also awarded for an outstanding performance in a specific production;
- Behind the Scenes, recognising exceptional creative work in areas such as scenography, dramaturgy, costumes, lighting, sound, music, make-up or hair;
- Jury Prize - Special Mention, awarded without preselection to a person, collective, institution or initiative that made an exceptional, original or innovative contribution to the performing arts; this prize is optional and awarded at the jury’s discretion.
The jury’s composition will be expanded from seven to nine members in order maintain a sufficient number of voters, thereby maintaining the credibility of the selection.
In addition, two of those seats will be determined based on a call for applications open to amateurs and performing arts enthusiasts involved in the arts scene. This will be launched at the beginning of 2026 and is intended to further strengthen the involvement of the public.
The 2027 jury will consist of:
- Marc Baum, author and director;
- Nicolas Calmes, cultural journalist and poet;
- Olivier Garofalo, author, playwright and director;
- Dani Jung, production director of the Théâtre National du Luxembourg (TNL)
- Christiane Kremer, author, editor and cultural journalist
- Lol Margue, stage manager,
- Marie-Laure Neiseler, professor of classical dance and artistic director Junior; Company CND Luxembourg;
- Member of the Public;
- Members of the Young Audience;
The ministerial order appointing the members of the jury will be published once the two public representatives have been selected. Their selection will be carried out by the appointed jury members.
EO
