5:30 p.m. Welcome
5:40 p.m. Presentation on the Music Business (approx. 20 min.)
6:00 p.m. Presentation on Pop Music Design and Global Music (approx. 20 min.)
6:20 p.m. Open Q&A session

The event is already fully booked. See you on February 6, 2027, at the information day!

Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects.

Admission is free.

For the second time, the state of Baden-Württemberg is presenting the State Prize for Pop Culture. The 2026 recipients are the band ENGIN from Mannheim, the Kulturladen Konstanz, beatmaker and producer NMD-Beats, and the LIVEKultur Baden-Württemberg association.

An independent panel of experts selected the winners in four categories:

Live Act: ENGIN
Live Music Venue: Kulturladen Konstanz
Producing: NMD-Beats
Impact: LIVEKultur Baden-Württemberg

The prizes in the Live Act, Live Music Venue, and Producing categories are each worth 10,000 euros. In the Impäct category, which will be awarded for the first time in 2026, the prize money is 5,000 euros. The awards ceremony will take place on November 19, 2026, at the Alte Feuerwache in Mannheim. Click here to register.

Experience the current generation of the band pool and look behind the scenes of our newcomer support program. LIVE & LOUD!

Admission to the concert is free!

In cooperation with the State University of Music and Performing Arts, the Kurpfälzisches Chamber Orchestra, and the Mannheim Music School.

The founding of the “public music school” in Mannheim in November 1776 by Georg Joseph Abbé Vogler was an outstanding pioneering achievement. The training of professional musicians, financed by Elector Carl Theodor, can be regarded as the first precursor to state music academies. Reason enough for a joint gala concert, for which the National Theater Mannheim, the State University of Music and Performing Arts, the Kurpfälzisches Chamber Orchestra, the Mannheim Music School, and the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg are joining forces.

Sonja Eismann, born in 1973, lives in Berlin and Vienna as a freelance journalist and cultural studies scholar. She co-founded the magazine *nylon. KunstStoff*, which focuses on feminism and pop culture, and worked as an editor at the Cologne-based magazine *Intro* from 2002 to 2007. She is currently conducting research on grrrl zines and craftivism and frequently goes on book tours to promote her book *Hot Topic: Pop Feminism Today*, published in October 2007. In general, she enjoys intellectual discourse, cross-country skiing, and small animals with soft fur.

Beats & Sound of the producing students! The line-up of the Producer's Club consists of students from the Pop Music Design bachelor's programme and the Popular Music master's programme with a focus on Producing/Composing Artist.

Admission is free.

Experience the current generation of the band pool and look behind the scenes of our newcomer support program. LIVE & LOUD!

Admission to the concert is free!

Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects.

Admission is free.

Beats & Sound of the producing students! The line-up of the Producer's Club consists of students from the Pop Music Design bachelor's programme and the Popular Music master's programme with a focus on Producing/Composing Artist. Admission is free.

Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects.

Admission is free.

Experience the Popakademie students on stage during their concert exams!

Admission is free.

February 6th is the Popakademie's info day.

On this day, the Popakademie offers lectures and information about studying at the Popakademie as well as study advice from staff, lecturers and students.
In addition, the Info Day provides insights into the Popakademie's project and competence areas.