The movers and shakers of the live industry get their big stage again

After a strong premiere in 2025, the Best Of Live Award enters the next round

Hamburg, 3 June 2026 - The stage is set for the next year of the Best Of Live Award: Following the successful premiere of the BOLA 2025, the BDKV industry award is now entering its second edition. With over 130 submissions, a fully booked gala evening and a palpable spirit of optimism, last year's BOLA showed how great the desire is for a modern, unifying and professionally strong award for live entertainment.
The submission phase for the BOLA 2026 begins on 1 July. All BDKV members are invited to submit their own projects or projects in which they are involved.

The Best Of Live Award recognises outstanding achievements backstage - in other words, the people, ideas and concepts that make live experiences possible. From classical music to festivals, from comedy to musicals, from artist development to sustainability.

The "Architect" category will be added in 2026. It honours agency services that excel in the discovery, development and placement of artists. For the first time, the work of those intermediaries who help shape careers and support artists in the long term will be given greater prominence.

Sonia Simmenauer, President of the BDKV and Chair of the BOLA jury:
"The BOLA has already shown in its premiere year how diverse, imaginative and powerful our industry is. This is exactly what we want to visualise once again. The award brings together people who make special live experiences possible backstage with passion and creativity."

The structure of the award is also being further honed. With the "Encore" category, the jury now also has the chance to present its own award. The "Legend" award remains the BDKV board's special prize.
The other categories once again showcase the entire spectrum of the live industry, from major tours and festivals to innovative event formats, sustainable concepts and exceptional promotion of young talent.

How the BOLA works
The Best Of Live Award is presented by the industry for the industry. BDKV members submit award-worthy projects - either their own or projects in which BDKV members have been involved. An independent jury from the membership and the industry nominates a maximum of five outstanding entries per category. In the final step, the BDKV members decide on the winners by voting in the categories.

The new jury for the BOLA 2026 is currently being put together and will be complete by the summer. As in the inaugural year, it will combine perspectives from all areas of the industry with external expertise.

Johannes Everke, Managing Director of the BDKV:
"With the BOLA, we have created an award that reflects the breadth of our industry and at the same time fulfils the highest professional standards. The combination of an independent jury and member voting makes it a genuine award from the industry for the industry. We are now continuing this together with the next edition."

The Best Of Live Award 2026 will be presented on the evening of 24 November 2026 at Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's Berlin. It will be the festive conclusion of the BDKV conference and the evening before the general meeting. This year's show will once again be hosted by Jeannine Michaelsen and comedian Jan van Weyde in a pointed, festive and highly entertaining manner.

Further information on categories, submission, procedures and press material can be found on the BOLA website: bestofliveaward.de/

BOLA 2026 schedule

• Submission phase (BDKV members): 1 July - 31 August 2026

• Announcement of the nominees: Wednesday, 7 October 2026

• Voting phase (BDKV members): 7 October - 11 November 2026

• Award ceremony / BOLA 2026: Tuesday, 24 November 2026

The 10 categories of the Best Of Live Award 2026

• Masterpiece - For the event (concert, tour or festival) that has set new standards in classical music

• Rockstar - For the event (concert, tour or festival) that stood out in one of the genres of popular music culture

• Word Up - For the event that has made a name for itself in Word & Comedy

• Magic Moment - For the event or programme that shone brightest in Show, Musical & Entertainment

• Companion - For a sustainable and successful artist development by organisers

• Architect - For agency services that excel in the discovery, development and placement of artists

• Avantgarde - For event organisers, touring promoters and event agencies that impress with creative concepts and break new ground

• Impact - For event organisers, touring companies and event agencies that create role models with sustainable actions (ecological, economic or social)

• Encore (special jury prize) - For an outstanding live experience or an industry-defining performance that particularly impressed the BOLA jury

• The Legend (special award from the BDKV board) - For a personality who has shaped the industry through their work