Since their launch in 2001, the ZKB Prizes have helped shape the festival’s profile. The label «nominated for the ZKB Patronage Prize» has come to stand for exciting and distinctive emerging talent. Together with Zürcher Kantonalbank, we look forward to continuing our longterm commitment this year.
The ZKB Audience Prize Fr. 10,000.-
Since 2016, spectators at the Zürcher Theater Spektakel have been able to cast their vote for the ZKB Audience Prize. At the entrance to the nominees’ productions, they are handed out a ballot to rate the show. The prize is awarded to the production with the best audience ratings.
In this win-win situation, not only artists, but also the audience can benefit. All voters automatically enter a raffle for one of the following prizes:
- 1st prize: VIP package for the ZKB award ceremony 2026
- 2nd prize: 2 performance vochers for the Zürcher Theater Spektakel 2026
- 3rd prize: Food voucher worth 100 Swiss Francs for the Zürcher Theater Spektakel
ZKB Patronage Prize Fr. 30,000.-
The ZKB Patronage Prize is awarded to a company or an artist working in theatre, dance or performance art. The aim of this prize is to support the chosen recipient in their future projects. It is awarded to a performance whose premiere has taken place within the past three years and represents independent theatre in a distinctive way. The nominees are chosen by the festival board. Precedence is given to artists who have yet to receive a level of public recognition commensurate with their achievements. Former prize-winners are excluded from nomination.
ZKB Acknowledgment Prize Fr. 5000.-
The ZKB Acknowledgement Prize allows for additional recognition and support of a nominee. It is awarded to a company or artist for extraordinary achievement in such areas as choreography, dramaturgy, audience participation or acting. All productions shown in «Short Pieces» are nominated for the ZKB Acknowledgment Prize, unless they have previously been nominated.
Nominationen 2025
LOU DJEHINAN VÉRONIQUE (Niamey) «Voix d’Elle»
ISLAM ELARABI (Kairo) «Just One Tile»
PIN WEN SU (Taipeh) «Leftover Market»
HANA UMEDA (Warschau) «Rapeflower»
JOSEFINA CERDA (Santiago de Chile) «Feral»
MATHILDE INVERNON (Genf) «Bell End»
International Jury
An independent jury of five experts decides on the awarding of the ZKB Prizes. The jury is appointed by the programme boardand chaired by one of its members, who does not have voting rights. The jury’s decisions – but not their deliberations – are made public. The 2025 jury is composed as follows:
KATJA BRUNNER
Katja Brunner is an artist and author from Zurich. Her theatre texts have won several awards, been translated into many languagesand performed on numerous stages around the world.
KSENIJA DUROVIĆ
Ksenija Đurović is a cultural worker and producer from Belgrade, with a focus on the independent performing arts scene in the region. She is the executive director and co-curator of Bitef festival.
FATIMA NDOYE
Fatima Ndoye is an artist and curator. She works with artists in various African countries, particularly in the field of dance, and directs the festival «Génération A» at Théâtre Paris-Villette.
VALÉRIE NIEDEROEST
Valérie Niederoest is an independent cultural worker, a musician, and co-founder of SALVE production & technique. Until 2023,Valérie was co-director and co-programmer of Théâtre Sévelin 36 in Lausanne.
SASAPIN SIRIWANIJ
Sasapin Siriwanij is a Bangkok-based artist, producer, and curator. She is the Artistic Director of the Bangkok International Performing Arts Meeting (BIPAM).
Former Prize Winners
2024
Patronage Prize: Rébecca Chaillon – «WHITEWASHING»
Acknowledgement Prize: Chun Shing Au – «GPO BOX No 211»
Audience Prize: Tiziano Cruz – «Wayqueycuna»
2023
Patronage Prize: Nadia Beugré – «L’homme rare»
Acknowledgement Prize: Khun Sreynoch & Ny Lai – «Sronoh & Snow White»
Audience Prize: Basel Zaraa – «Dear Laila»
2022
Patronage Prize: Ali Chahrour – «The Love Behind My Eyes»
Acknowledgement Prize: Martha Luisa Hernández Cadenas – «No soy unicorno»
Audience Prize: SMALL CITIZENS – «The Children of Amazi (Kinder des Wassers)»
2021
Patronage Prize: Mallika Taneja – «Allegedly»
Acknowledgement Prize: Edna Jaime – «O Bom Combate (The Good Fight)»
Audience Prize: Tschuku Tschuku – «Zilin» & Marina Otero Argentinien – «FUCK ME»
2020
Due to the corona pandemic and the ensuing conditions for the festival, the criteria for nomination and awarding prizes could not be applied. Accordingly, Zürcher Kantonalbank and the festival direction have decided not to award any ZKB Prizes in 2020.
2019
Patronage Prize: Samara Hersch & Lara Thoms – «We All Know What's Happening»
Acknowledgement Prize: Ira Melkonyan & The Rubberbodies Collective «Upstairs Geology 50/50»
Audience Prize: Samara Hersch & Lara Thoms – «We All Know What's Happening»
2018
Patronage Prize: Silke Huysman & Hannes Dereere – «Mining Stories»
Acknowledgement Prize: Youness Atbane & Youness Aboulakoul – «The Architects»
Audience Prize: Casus Circus – «Driftwood»
2017
Patronage Prize: Wojtek Ziemilski & Nowy Teatr – «Jeden gest (One Gesture)»
Acknowledgement Prize: Fatoumata Bagayoko – «Fatou t'as tout fait»
Audience Prize: Lukas Avendaño – «No soy persona. Soy mariposa»
For a complete list of the prize winners since 1996 please check here