Competition rules
Please read carefully!
Art. 1 – Organizer
The competition is organized by the city of Apolda, the district of Weimarer Land, and the Wirtschaftsförder-Vereinigung Apolda-Weimarer Land e. V. (Apolda-Weimarer Land Economic Development Association). The initiative is sponsored by the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Agriculture, and Rural Areas and is under the patronage of the minister. The Weimarer Land district is the contact for the registration process and compliance with data protection regulations in accordance with the agreement on joint responsibility under Art. 26 of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Acting on behalf of the organizers: Olaf Müller (Mayor of the City of Apolda), Christiane Schmidt-Rose (District Administrator of the Weimarer Land district) and Thomas Gottweiss (1st Chairman of the Apolda-Weimarer Land Economic Development Association).
Art. 2 – Conditions of participation
The APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2026 is exclusively open to the following European fashion colleges and universities selected by the organizers:
Denmark
• Designskolen Kolding
Germany
• Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin
• Berlin University of the Arts
• Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle
• Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
• Pforzheim University
• Reutlingen University
• Schneeberg University of Applied Arts
• Trier University
Finland
• Aalto University
School of Arts, Design and Architecture Helsinki
France
• École Duperré, École supérieure des arts appliqués Paris
Netherlands
• ArtEZ University of the Arts Arnhem
Poland
• Academy of Fine Arts Lodz | ASP Łódź | Strzemiński Academy of Art Łódź
Spain
• ESDi - Escola Superior de Disseny, Sabadell Barcelona
Czechia
• Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design Prague
The colleges and universities select two of their most talented graduates from the fashion design department from the year 2025. Their final projects (bachelor's or master's thesis) are submitted for evaluation.
Art. 3 – The following criteria contribute to the selection of the winners:
a) Independent and trend-setting design concept
b) Artistic and technical competence
c) Innovative value – visionary elements, engagement with new technologies
d) Quality of implementation and presentation
e) Contemporary functionality with reference to our modern lives
Art. 4 – Nomination for the competition
By February 12, 2026 (deadline for submissions), participants in the competition must be nominated by their colleges and universities using the nomination form.
Art. 5 – Registration for the competition
The following documents must be submitted for registration by February 12, 2026 (registration deadline):
- • Registration form, completed in full and signed
- Portrait photo (jpg, 300 dpi)
- Copy of degree certificate, if already available, or confirmation of graduation from the university
- The following additional documents are required for the presentation of the competition participants on the organizer's social media channels: Brief description of the bachelor's or master's thesis in German and English (max. 1 page)
- Theoretical work with sketches of ideas, color and material concept, collages, mood boards, photos, fashion graphics (if possible also digital, jpg, 300 dpi)
Art. 6 - Submission of final theses (bachelor's or master's thesis) for the competition and fashion clips (optional)
By March 13, 2026 (submission deadline), all participants in the competition must submit their complete final thesis (bachelor's or master's thesis) with the following documents:
a) Submission form, completed in full and signed
b) Written thesis (bachelor's or master's thesis, possibly a copy)
c) Original models of the thesis (bachelor's or master's thesis)
(min. 4, max. 6 complete outfits, women's fashion or men's fashion), each labeled with the first and last name of the candidate and the school. If accessories are part of the collection, these may also be submitted.
d) To ensure the correct allocation of collection items and the correct way of wearing them in all presentations, each original outfit should be accompanied by a sketch with the candidate's first and last name and the name of the school, as well as a technical description and color and material specifications.
e) One color photo of each original outfit in at least DIN A5 format, with the first and last name of the candidate and the school written on the back.
f) Fashion clip (optional) with the following specifications
• File format mp4
• 264 codec
• 15-20 Mbit/s
• Standard aspect ratio of 16:9
• Audio codec of AAC-LC
• Max. 150 MB
For further use of the submitted image material, Appendix 1 “Photo Material APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2026” must be submitted. The submission and use of fashion clips is subject to a separate agreement between the organizer and the candidates.
The jury reserves the right to select the outfits to be presented at the award ceremony.
The registration documents referred to in Art. 5 must be sent by February 12, 2026, to the following address:
Wirtschaftsförder-Vereinigung Apolda-Weimarer Land e. V.
APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD
Am Brückenborn 5 D-99510 Apolda
Contact: Sylvia Frey
Tel.: + 49 (3644) 5 16 40 06
e-mail: info@wifoe-ap.de
The collections and written final theses referred to in Art. 6 must be sent by March 13, 2026 to the following address:
Apolda European Design Award
Eiermannbau Apolda
Auenstraße 11
D-99510 Apolda
Tel.: + 49 (3644) 5 16 40 06
Contact: Sylvia Frey
Tel.: + 49 (3644) 5 16 40 06
e-mail: info@wifoe-ap.de
Personal delivery of entries for Art. 6 is possible by prior appointment.
Any questions should be directed to the Apolda-Weimarer Land Economic Development Association or the project coordinator for universities:
Project Coordination Universities
Ungererstraße 90
D-80805 Munich
Contact: Anette Frankenberger
Tel.: +49 (89) 3 00 13 46
Mobile: +49 (0173) 2 10 98 80
Email: apolda.design.award@gmail.com
Art. 7 - Transport costs / insurance
- • Candidates shall bear the costs of sending all competition entries and insuring them for transport to Apolda.
- The organizers shall bear the costs of returning all competition entries and insurance coverage for the duration of the transfer and return transport. The organizers accept no liability for any damage to the competition entries resulting from their presentation (jury work, award ceremony, and other fashion events).
Art. 8 – Copyright
The submitted competition entries and the accompanying fashion clips remain the property of the designers. By registering to participate, the organizers receive the unlimited and free publication rights for the image and film material within the framework of the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2026.
The organizers are granted the right to use all submitted works, including the associated image rights, free of charge until December 31, 2027, for the following projects: Fashion shows, presentations for companies in the fashion industry, publications in the press, on television and on the Internet, APOLDA DESIGNER NETWORK, exhibitions, articles about the competition or other activities necessary to promote the competition and the participating candidates. The submitted fashion clips may also be used on the website www.apolda-design-award.de and on the competition's social media channels until December 31, 2027, for the purpose of marketing the project.
Art. 9 – Data protection
Personal data such as first and last name, address, telephone number, email address, and account details will be collected, processed, and used within the framework of the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2026. The aforementioned data will be used exclusively for the purpose of participating in the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2026 and will be treated confidentially. The information will be stored in the association's own IT system. Personal data will only be passed on to third parties for the implementation of sub-projects (magazine, network, etc.). Personal data will be deleted in accordance with the statutory provisions. For this and further information on data processing in the context of the competition, please refer to the information sheet in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation. You can exercise your right to information, correction, blocking, and deletion of your data at any time without giving reasons. For further information, revocation, or objection to the collection and processing of personal data, please write to info@wifoe-ap.de.
Article 10 – Prizes and jury
The APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2026 is endowed with €25,000. A jury of representative figures from the worlds of design, industry, and media will select the winners and decide how the total prize money will be distributed. The jury's decision is confidential and legally binding.
In addition, the 12 best candidates participating in the competition will be invited to the award ceremony in Apolda. They will be presented together with their work and the fashion clips they have submitted.
Art. 11 - Award ceremony and fashion show
The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Apolda with a fashion show of the original designs submitted by the candidates in the presence of the 12 best competition participants.
Art. 12 - APOLDA DESIGNER NETWORK
An essential part of the competition is the APOLDA DESIGNER NETWORK.
To this end, the candidates are called upon to produce fashion clips of approx. 60 seconds for their submitted competition entries, which will be published online via a “digital showroom” (Web.tv).
The production and submission of these fashion clips is voluntary.
This makes use of digital forms of presentation and distribution, which enable project-related communication with interested fashion companies and even contacts for further career planning.
The three best fashion clips will be evaluated by a separate jury and awarded a total of €3,000 in prize money. They will be presented to the public during the award ceremony.
In addition, the 12 best contestants of the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2026 will be presented in detail on the organizer's channels.
Art. 13 - Personal attendance
All invited candidates undertake to attend the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2023 ceremony in person on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Apolda.
They will receive a detailed program of their stay in Apolda for the award ceremony in good time. Any changes to the address/telephone number/email address of the applicants must be communicated immediately to the address specified in Art. 6 or via the registration portal at www.apolda-design-award.de.
Art. 14 - Arrival and departure
The candidates in the competition undertake to arrive in Apolda by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026. Departure from Apolda is on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
Accommodation will be provided by the organizers. Guests (max. 2 persons) of the participants must be registered by email (info@wifoe-ap.de) by April 10, 2026, at the latest and are responsible for their own expenses.
Art. 15 – Travel expenses
Travel expenses, accommodation including breakfast, meals (1 x daily allowance of €15.00, arrival/departure day €15.00, total €30.00) will be covered by the organizers.
a) from Germany: 2nd class train travel
b) for those arriving by car, a mileage allowance of €0.15/km will be paid. Car rental costs will not be reimbursed.
c) From other European countries: as per a) or economy class flight
Candidates pay their travel expenses in advance; their expenses will be reimbursed upon arrival in Apolda upon presentation of receipts (except for the mileage allowance).
Art. 16 - Declaration of consent to these competition rules
By signing the registration form for the competition, the content of these rules (Art. 1-16) is accepted.
JURY
Karin Veit
Chair of the Jury
Designer
Iris von Arnim
Designer / Entrepreneur Iris von Arnim
Honorary Member of the Jury
Marcello Concilio
Head of Corporate Communications & Culture Press Officer
Ernsting's family GmbH & Co. KG
Elke Dieterich
Fashion Editor
TextilWirtschaft
Deutscher Fachverlag GmbH
Tanja Hellmuth
hellmuth.TANJA HELLMUTH STUDIOS
Marcus Kahl
Managing Director Breuninger Erfurt
Breuninger GmbH & Co
Andrea Karg
Founder/Creative Director ALLUDE
Gerald Rosner
Managing Director StrickChic GmbH
Angelika Schindler-Obenhaus
Sabine Spieler
Fashion Editor
Simone Pilger
Rabe Moden GmbH