Who received the Kurt Vorhofer Prize 2026?

The Kurt Vorhofer Prize for outstanding political reporting in print media was awarded to "Falter" chief reporter Nina Horaczek for her journalistic work, in which, according to the jury, she assumes "in beispielhafter Weise soziale Verantwortung" ("in an exemplary manner social responsibility").

For what was Constanze Ertl honored with the Hochner Prize?

Constanze Ertl was awarded the Hochner Prize for her "couragierte und beharrliche Recherche und aufklärerische Berichterstattung über den hochsensiblen Bereich der vernachlässigten und schweren Krankheit ME/CFS" ("courageous and persistent research and enlightening reporting on the highly sensitive area of the neglected and serious illness ME/CFS"), which is also endowed with 7,500 euros.

To whom did Van der Bellen refer at the beginning of the ceremony?

At the beginning, Van der Bellen recalled the journalist Andreas Koller, who died at the age of 65, who had once been awarded the Vorhofer Prize and had worked for many years as political editor at the "Salzburger Nachrichten."

Vorhofer Prize 2026: Horaczek and Ertl Honored

Vienna, 01 July 2026

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen presented the Kurt Vorhofer Prize to "Falter" chief reporter Nina Horaczek and the Hochner Prize to ORF journalist Constanze Ertl in Vienna.

The ceremonial presentation of the two renowned media awards took place on Tuesday at the Hofburg. Both awards are endowed with 7,500 euros each and are tendered by the journalists' union. In his speech, the head of state began by recalling the journalist Andreas Koller, who had recently died at the age of 65, who had once himself been awarded the Vorhofer Prize and had worked for many years as political editor at the "Salzburger Nachrichten."

The Kurt Vorhofer Prize for outstanding political reporting in print media went this year to Nina Horaczek. The jury justified its decision by stating that Horaczek, in her journalistic work, assumes "in beispielhafter Weise soziale Verantwortung" ("in an exemplary manner social responsibility"). Horaczek is chief editor and chief reporter of the magazine "Falter" and was honored for her political reporting.

Van der Bellen Presents Vorhofer and Hochner Prizes to Horaczek and Ertl

Hochner Prize for Research on ME/CFS

Significance of Free Media for Democracy

Jury Praises Diversity of Journalistic Work

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