The winners of the PRIX JEUNESSE INTERNATIONAL 2026 were announced this evening. At the world’s oldest and most renowned festival for children’s and youth television programmes, over 300 international children’s television professionals came together at the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation in Munich/Germany, to view the competition programmes from all over the world, discuss quality standards and select the best productions. The coveted trophies have now been awarded at a festive gala in Munich.
A total of 440 TV programmes from 52 countries were submitted to the competition by broadcasters, streamers and production companies. Back in January, an international pre-selection jury had chosen 66 entries for the final round of the main categories, and 29 finalists in the Shorts competition. The range of programmes in the six main categories Fiction/Non-Fiction up to 6 years, Fiction/Non-Fiction 7-10 years and Fiction/Non-Fiction 11-15 years covers all genres that children’s television has to offer: From comedy formats over drama and animated action series to documentaries and knowledge shows. And this year’s final programmes were also particularly diverse in terms of subject matter: exclusion, racism, abuse of power, violence, and death are addressed as well as friendship, cohesion, gender identity, physical disability, activism, and cultural exchange.
The award ceremony is the grand finale of an inspiring week. What makes the PRIX JEUNESSE INTERNATIONAL so special is that there are no juries that meet behind closed doors. The festival participants from all over the world vote together on the winning programmes in the six main categories.
Taiwanese children’s television enjoyed tremendous success at this year’s PRIX JEUNESSE, having already impressed audiences with its strong programming at the festival’s previous edition. A total of five awards went to Taiwan, including the main award in the 7–10 Years Fiction category for the sensitive drama Where We Sit Together in which ten-year-old Fang tries to bring some structure and love into her chaotic family, thereby redefining what “home” means.
The German children’s jury also honoured a programme from Taiwan: the documentary Call Me Wild Child in which two boys accompany a ranger on a hunt in the jungle. The documentary series aims to encourage children to step away from the screen and actively experience nature. Another Taiwanese drama impressed with a deep understanding of children’s needs and feelings. The Brave Swing tells the story of ten-year-old Cheng-Cheng, who finds the courage to speak about his pain following a traumatic breach of trust. It addresses the sexual abuse of boys, the silence within families, and the importance of support in breaking the cycle of trauma and violence. For this much-needed initiative, it was awarded with the PRIX JEUNESSE Gender Equity Prize.
Other winners include the Japanese show Motioncrafts which introduces the joy of moving crafts while exploring the science of motion. Aim of the makers is to encourage active thinking and hands-on creation — values that are becoming ever more important today. The BBC won the main prize in the 11 – 15 Non-Fiction category with an episode of its “My Life” series called My Life, my horse & my Spear. The documentary offers rare access to young British-Pakistani riders telling their own stories, challenging stereotypes by portraying confident, reflective Muslim teens.
These are the prize winners of the PRIX JEUNESSE INTERNATIONAL 2026:
Category 11 – 15 Fiction
1. Bottled Up!, NTR, Netherlands, 8,8 points
2. Shut Up, Alfredfilm, Norway, 8,4 points
3. Hidden motives, NRK – Norsk rikskringkasting, Norway, 7,98 points
4. Hein, Juliet at Pupkin, Netherlands, 7,9 points
5. Goat Girl,KiKA – Der Kinderkanal von ARD und ZDF, Germany, 7,84 points