The Theme

At the beginning of the year, members were invited to suggest themes for the 2026 competition, and a survey was used to determine the final topic.
The theme that received the most votes is:

Water and Sea

When it comes to the glass, tools, or techniques you use, there are no limits to your creativity. The only important thing is that the theme Water and Sea is clearly recognizable!
In addition, we would like you to give your creation a title.

Participation

Everyone who enjoys working with hot glass and being creative, and who is ready to take on the challenge, is welcome to participate.
It is not necessary to be a member of the association.

Rules

A few rules for the competition pieces must be observed:

• Only self-made glass objects are permitted (focal bead, bracelet, necklace, ring top, glass pendant, etc.).
  Working with hot glass has priority, but cold working afterward is allowed..
• Each participant may submit one glass object..
• The object may not be glued with other materials; all parts must be worked in the flame or fused together in the kiln.
• The object should be wearable.
  “Wearable” means that it should be transportable, compact, and stable — something that fits in one hand, in a pocket, or in a small bag.
  We do not want large monuments that could break during transport or setup or that are inherently unstable.
• Entries for the competition may not have been published before or during the competition.
• Submit a photo with a neutral background (white or gray), minimum resolution 1650 × 1240 pixels.
• Include a title for the submitted object.

The Prizes

The board has decided to organize the prizes and evaluations differently this year.
The following new prizes will be awarded:

Jury Prize

As in previous years, the submitted works will be evaluated by a professional jury whose members come from various fields such as the Wertheim city administration, the museum, glassblowing/art, jewelry design, and course instructors.
The jurors will take several criteria into account in their evaluation:

• Originality of the idea – first impression
• Design and composition
• Craftsmanship
• Innovation and experimentation
• The jury will select its own winner.

The Jury Prize is endowed with €300 and will be awarded on Saturday evening during the group dinner.

Audience Prize

As always, there will also be an audience vote. Anyone present in Wertheim during the event is eligible to vote.
There will be no online voting, as we believe that a fair assessment of the artworks is only possible in person.
The Audience Prize is endowed with €300 and will be presented on Sunday at the end of the event.

Special Prize

This year, there will again be a Special Prize intended to support and encourage talented artists.
It consists of a voucher worth €250, which can be used as a contribution toward a course of the winner’s choice.
The Special Prize will now be awarded by the board itself.
The presentation will take place on Sunday at the end of the event.

Teen Prize

We sincerely hope that once again this year we can encourage teenagers to take part in this competition.
All children and young people up to the age of 19 are eligible to participate.
The Teen Prize will be awarded by the audience and is endowed with €50.
The award ceremony will take place on Sunday, at the end of the event.
We hope that this year’s theme will inspire the next generation of glass bead artists!

Consolation Prize

And finally, among all participants who did not win any of the main prizes, a Consolation Prize—donated by last year’s winner—will be raffled off.
This prize will also be presented on Sunday at the end of the event.

Submission Deadline

The submission deadline is June 30, 2026

The postmark date applies.
Please send your entries to:
Charly Hummel
Schmidsfelden 3
88299 Leutkirch

All Swiss entries should be sent to the following address:

Claudia Eidenbenz
Hagwiesenstrasse 11
3122 Kehrsatz

All Swiss entries should be sent to the following address:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please note that we may use the submitted photos in future for club publications (web and print).

We hope the competition will once again be an exciting challenge for both experienced artists and newcomers alike!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us—either via the association’s Facebook page or by email at:
We look forward to receiving many wonderful submissions!
The Board