General competition information on the German Packaging Award
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Profile
The established international German Packaging Award raises public awareness of inventions and new developments and promotes innovation in various categories. Companies, institutions, and individuals from Germany and abroad are eligible to participate. Award winners are honored at an award ceremony and receive a certificate and trophy. The “Winner” seal can be used for advertising worldwide.
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Organizer
The competition is organized by the German Packaging Institute. The competition languages are German and English.
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Target group
The German Packaging Award is aimed at national and international participants from the packaging industry and the consumer goods industry. Participants include designers, developers, manufacturers, and users of packaging materials, packaging supplies, individual, collective, and display packaging. The “Machine Technology” category is aimed at manufacturers of packaging machines and technical modules for the production of packaging. The “Young Talent” category recognizes special packaging solutions developed by students, trainees, and schoolchildren.
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Price
Regular participants pay EUR 500 for each submission (plus VAT). Participation in the Young Talent Award is free of charge for school pupils, trainees, and students.
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Deadlines
The submission phase begins on March 3 and ends on May 23, 2026!
Submissions should be made at www.verpackungspreis.de with names, descriptions, photos, sketches, etc.
Samples can be sent to the jury from May 4 and must be received by June 25, 2026. The address and a reference number will be provided with the confirmation of participation and invoice. -
Application phase
March 3 to May 23, 2026
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Jury session
July 1st and 2nd, 2026
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Announcement of the winners
July 30, 2026
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Award ceremony
in autumn 2026 (exact date and location will be announced shortly)
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Categories
Design // Functionality & Convenience // Product Presentation // Cost Effectiveness // Sustainability // Logistics & Material Flow // New Material // Digitalisation // Packaging Machines (engineering, technology, software) // Young Talent (packaging ideas by school pupils, trainees, students)
Looking back to 2025
Forward-looking solutions for people, companies and the environment
Over 200 submissions from 15 countries and three continents entered the race for the German Packaging Award 2025. After thoroughly examining every one of them, the independent jury of experts honoured 37 outstanding innovations across all materials with the coveted award at Europe’s largest packaging exhibition.
The winners come from Germany, Iran, Austria, Switzerland and the USA. We also received submissions from China, England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Serbia, Spain, the Czech Republic and Turkey.
A brief overview and summary of the German Packaging Award 2025 can be found here.
Impressions from the 2025 award ceremony at FACHPACK in Nuremberg
The innovations cover the entire range of materials. They use glass, wood, rigid or flexible plastic, metal, paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard.
We look forward to pioneering solutions and new standards for closed-loop systems, reusability and refillability, for the development of innovative sources and applications for recyclate, for new bio-based materials, optimal unboxing and intuitive user experiences, for mono-material composites and barrier functions, for product protection, residual emptying, first-opening protection, single-variety recycling and for reusable systems.
Who can participate in the competition?
Are you a designer, developer, manufacturer, or user of innovative packaging solutions, or are you one of the industry's creative young talents? Then submit your innovations and best solutions by May 23, 2026, to Europe's most important
The most important points at a glance
Across materials and industries
For products, prototypes, and concepts from across the entire value chain
10 categories with fixed and transparent criteria
Independent and diverse jury of experts
For companies, organizations, and individuals
For participants from Germany and abroad
Chances and benefits
We offer visibility and a big stage. The German Packaging Award is the largest and most prestigious European exhibition for packaging.
The best advertising with a seal of approval: winning the German Packaging Award is the ultimate proof of quality and forward-looking solutions. Advertise without time or space restrictions with a certificate, seal, and trophy.
Stand out from the competition: Secure tangible arguments for internal and external communication and marketing. Convince customers, consumers, partners, and future employees, and reward your team with the industry's Oscar.
Recognition and prestige: Document your innovative strength and future-proofing, and demonstrate your responsibility towards the environment and society.
Packaging Award and Gold Award
Our independent jury evaluates each submission personally and specifically during a two-day jury session. The ten categories of the exhibition provide the right environment for every solution and innovation to shine. Submissions can be entered in one or more categories at the same time. With the Gold Awards, our jury has the opportunity to recognize innovations that stand out even among the illustrious circle of packaging award winners.
Award and prize ceremony
The winners of the German Packaging Award 2026 will be announced on July 30, 2026. The date and location of the award ceremony are yet to be announced. The winners of the exclusive Gold Awards will also be revealed during the award ceremony.
The ten categories at a glance
Design
Functionality + convenience
Product presentation
Cost-effectiveness
Sustainability
Logistics and material flow
New materials
Digitalization
Packaging machines (engineering, technology, software)
Young talent (packaging concepts from school pupils, trainees, students)
