Miss Crafts 2026 is funeral director Emily Maichle, Mister Crafts 2026 is plasterer Maximilian Buerger. (Photo: © Thomas Plettenberg)
Read aloud:
March 2026
The decision was made at the ZUKUNFT HANDWERK trade fair in the late afternoon of March 4th: Emily Maichle is Miss Handwerk 2026, Maximilian Buerger is Mister Handwerk 2026.
21:30 p.m.
Once the initial hunger is satisfied, another urge takes hold. Andreas Ehlert, President of the Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Crafts and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the publishing house Handwerk, the word. "My special thanks go to today's superstars with Miss and Mister Crafts at the forefront – and it has never been so close before that we in the jury said that basically anyone could have done it," he says.
Andreas Ehlert also looks back to "the very beginning, when on June 21, 1926, six men founded the publishing house Handwerk with 9000 Reichsmarks of start-up capital." Not everyone reaches 100 years; that's quite an achievement. They may have started small, but they certainly had a vision. A lively and whirlwind tour through important milestones of the past 100 years awaits – and then the celebrations continue late into the night at the "Wirtshaus in der Au" (Inn in the Meadow).
See you again next year!
Panorama - Society
The Chambers of Crafts in Germany - Chamber of Crafts and Trades of Saarland
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20:00 p.m.
There is one more item on the agenda for this long day. One that is met with much enthusiastic cheering: the arrival of the twelve finalists at the "Wirtshaus in der Au" restaurant, where not only Miss and Mister Crafts 2026 is celebrated, but also the great Celebration of 100 years of the publishing house Handwerk The event is taking place. Well over 120 invited guests have gathered for the occasion. But the first applause is for the newly crowned Miss and Mister Crafts 2026.
Sandra Hunke, who herself participated in Miss and Mister Handwerk in 2012, greets the many guests of the evening with a few spontaneous words that clearly come from the heart: "You have all won, because you are all craftspeople," she says. Also Torsten Uhlig, CEO of SIGNAL IDUNA, He says a few words and expresses his respect and gratitude for "100 years of journalistic work for the trades." He also highlights the accompanying transformation from newspaper to magazine and digitization.
18:00 p.m.
The decision was anything but easy for the jury, as the two jury members who announced it also stated – Torsten Uhlig, CEO of SIGNAL IDUNA, and Kai Swoboda, Deputy Chairman of the Board of IKK classic"You are all winners," says Uhlig. And he is absolutely right, because not only are all twelve outstanding representatives of their respective trades – they all deserved the yellow sash and the golden helmet!
Apply now!Important note: The next application round has already started!
17:42 PM – it is finished!
And then the jury finally returns. "I'd love to choose them all," says presenter Jan, before inviting all the candidates back onto the stage. But of course that's not possible; there can only be two.
17:15 p.m.
"I wouldn't want to be in the jury's shoes," he said. Moderator Jan C. Küster said, before sending them off to the exam. "You now have the toughest job of the day ahead of you. But whatever the decision may be – all twelve of you have already achieved a tremendous amount!"
The presenter shortens the waiting time with a lighthearted quiz on craft-related questions. For example, whether an ell is actually the oldest natural unit of measurement or a woman's name.
17:00 p.m.
Among men, it Thomas, tailor He's done. He wants to raise awareness of his increasingly rare craft and inspire more people to pursue it. "We make dreams come true. Customers come to us – and we get started right away," he says. He's not only committed to association work, but also to greater inclusion in the trades. "People with severe disabilities are the most loyal colleagues of all," he says.
The fifth candidate is Sebastian, building cleanerSebastian has been self-employed in his own business for ten years. He is passionate about his work, he says, "because of the happy faces here. Take the future of skilled trades – people are happy that the restrooms are clean and regularly maintained." Sebastian wants to make a difference: "I would like to see more young people getting involved in skilled trades, and I want to promote that," he says.
Candidate number four is Plasterer Maximilian, the "Mayor." The young master craftsman, whose last name is Bürger, is involved in everything. "I follow many things in many different areas of the trade," he says. His advice to young school graduates: "Try things out, that's the only way to find out what's right for you," he says. He particularly appreciates the great diversity of his trade.
Third comes Scaffolder Hannes His path led him from industry to the trades, and he loves his profession "more every day now – it was absolutely the right decision." His trade, which he considers the best part of his job, ensures that all the other tradespeople get home safely at the end of the construction site. "Construction sites in general: there's a wonderful sense of community within the trades family," he says.
The one who was still ill yesterday Tile, slab and mosaic layer Danilo is the The second candidate for the title of Mister Handwerk 2026. You wouldn't know it from his performance on stage. "I love everything about my job – it's as diverse and unique as my customers and the materials," he says. He wishes that apprenticeships were more valued. "I didn't lay a single tile in three years of my apprenticeship. But there are plenty of opportunities to get help here," he says.
Now it's time for the six male candidates. Body and vehicle builder Andrei He kicks things off by recounting his youth, when he came to Germany from Romania at the age of 15 and chose a career in craftsmanship, eventually earning his master craftsman title. "My message is: never give up!" he says.
16:30 p.m.
The last candidate is Thea Miller's wifeShe represents her rather unusual craft with passion. "What fascinates me most is when people come to our mill and are completely enthusiastic about it, the smell, everything," she says. She adds: "I have one great wish: for more open communication. More talking with each other, rather than about each other," she says.
The fifth candidate is Chimney sweep Evelynewhose message is inclusive: "In the trades, everyone is equally welcome, regardless of gender, origin, or religion," she says. She admits she often "still has to give people a piece of her mind," but providing advice is also becoming increasingly important. It's crucial for her to convey that the stereotype of the tradesman "with little upstairs" is simply untrue!
Funeral director Emily She comes on stage as candidate number four. She wants to convey the joy she finds in her craft and in life itself. "In my profession, you see how quickly life can be over. As Miss Crafts, I want to encourage people to enjoy life much more," she says.
The third in the group is Carpenter DoritIncidentally, there's still no sign of nervousness here, just like with all the other candidates. "Take the plunge and try out a trade; I tried university too – just go into a trade, it's a lot of fun," is her message. Meanwhile, it's also... Miss Crafts 2025 and jury member Katja Lilu Melder arrived.
Second comes Pastry chef Anne She wants to "be a voice for mothers in the trades, because there's still a lot of work to be done," she says. After a year as Au pair in London She spontaneously decided to become a pastry chef. "Even though I'm actually more of a cheese sandwich with pickles," she says, laughing.
As practiced the day before, the twelve women and men then enter the stage one after the other. Carpentry apprentice AnabeI is the first – she talks about her reasons for going into a trade after her studies. "I definitely see my motivation and my future in the trades," she says.
Now the big moment has arrived., which the twelve candidates had been eagerly anticipating for so long. The moderator enters punctually. Jan C. Küster The stage, in front of which a large crowd of interested spectators had already gathered. They all wanted to know: who would take the title home and into the coming year? Who would represent the skilled trades and their craft as Miss Crafts 2026, who as Mister Crafts 2026? The excitement was building!
16:00 p.m.
The countdown is running. It's still running on the SIGNAL-IDUNA stage Another presentation is coming up, but in just a few minutes the Miss and Mister Crafts 2026 competition will begin. All twelve finalists will present themselves once more. joint photo The atmosphere still seems relaxed, but I'm sure some people are feeling quite agitated inside. "Excited," one person describes it. Sebastian, building cleaner his state of mind, while Thomas, tailor waves it off and laughs: "Oh, come on, still getting nervous at my age..." Also a jury member and Mister Craft 2025 Marius Karl Hanten has already arrived, ready to hand over the sash to his successor.
14:00 p.m.
The mood, it becomes clear, is among the Candidates The problem is solved. The uncomplicated manner of Christoph Gambeck – who, as always, wants to learn a lot about the twelve women and men's professions – and his colleague Cyntia certainly contributes to this. "Eyeshadow or mascara?" he asks, for example. Body and vehicle builders AndrewHe calmly counters: "Both." After about two hours, the women join the men in getting their masks on. Thomas, tailor He says, laughing: "Remember, I'm over 50, I don't want to look 14!" And also Tile, slab and mosaic layer Danilo He's already ready. He's familiar with the "makeup" aspect from several other appointments and filming sessions. "I have a general idea of what I want, but we'll see what happens," he says. He's feeling reasonably fit again, he says, and is happy to be able to participate in the finale. "Of course, I would have liked to have done the rehearsal on Tuesday, but on the other hand, it's also good to be thrown in at the deep end like this," he says, before being approached by Christoph Gambeck's assistant. Cynthia just like the other five candidates who were made up beforehand.
It may hardly be surprising in the end – but the six male candidates finish significantly faster than their female colleagues…
12:00 p.m.
How often Make-up artist Cristoph Gambeck already about the perfect appearance He's completely lost track of who takes care of the candidates, the Munich native says with a laugh. "But it's great that I get to know new professions here every time," he says. And he adds, as he's discussing his Employee Cyntia He then points out to the first two candidates, undertaker Emily and miller Thea, that these two professions have not yet occupied his chair. One after the other, the two of them ensure the... perfect hair style and matching make-upFirst the women go, then the men – too Danilo, who arrived in Munich around noon. The time it took for the twelve finalists varied, as Cristoph "It takes longer for some, faster for others," he says. He basically has a plan, but of course, they're always in contact with the candidates. "Should we make the hair a little wavy?" he might ask one of them, for example. Emily "Yes, we can do that," comes the straightforward reply. In the end, she's just as satisfied as Thea. "I only really wear makeup when I go to weddings – but now I still feel like myself," she says. A quarter of an hour per person is about enough; after that, hair and makeup are perfect – and it's time for the next ones.
08:30 p.m.
Good morning and greetings from Munich! The Bavarian capital welcomes the visitors of the International Crafts Fair and the FUTURE CRAFTS with a low-hanging wall of fog. Today things get serious; the participants in this year's Miss and Mister Crafts final face a full program until the final decision is made this afternoon at 16:30 p.m. as to who will represent the skilled trades for the coming year as Miss and Mister Crafts 2026.
The first good news comes right in the morning: candidate and tile, slab and mosaic layer Danilo, who was absent due to illness the day before the election, is fit enough to participate in today's final. Welcome to Munich, Danilo! Just a quick breakfast, then everyone will be off to the... FIAT bus over to the ICM – that will be the future Miss and Mister Crafts Provided by the sponsor for one year in the event of victory FIAT"I'm a carpentry apprentice, and for us, large cars are a must-have to get the large pieces of furniture safely to the customers," he says. Anabel when getting off the bus. Her boss will surely be pleased, too, if Miss Crafts 2026 from his company. And plasterer Maximilian could also certainly imagine being able to use the van for a year. "As a plasterer, I always have a lot of tools, so I could definitely make good use of the vehicle," he says.
But of course, at this early hour on Wednesday morning, everything is still open… Once everyone has arrived on the premises, there is a little free time to look around and soak up the trade fair atmosphere before the next important appointment awaits – the mask!
20:00 p.m.
Meeting point: Restaurant: At "Ciao Bello," right across from the hotel where everyone is staying, the evening before the election winds down in a relaxed atmosphere. Funeral director Emily is engaged in lively conversation with miller Thea – the candidates already know each other, but it's been a while since they all met and got to know each other. Emily is also pleased about this: "It's so cool that we're seeing each other again now; the last time was last June. I think we're all pretty excited about tomorrow; you can probably sense a certain underlying tension – but it's mostly positive," says the funeral director. A lovely end to the first day. Tomorrow it will get serious!
18:00 p.m.
Thus freshly shod, they then take to the stage. Carpentry apprentice Anabel is the first to try out her big moment – always the most thankless task, of course, but after a few moments everything is clear and one after the other, pastry chef Anne, carpenter Dorit, undertaker Emily, chimney sweep Evelyne, miller Thea, bodywork and vehicle builder Andrei, scaffolder Hannes, plasterer Maximilian, building cleaner Sebastian and tailor Thomas take to the stage. It's clear that the tension gradually seems to dissipate – not least because... Project manager Maren who moderates in a friendly manner. On election day Jan C. Küsteto take over the moderation. And at the end, the announcement of the election results will also be rehearsed. "It's like always, the dress rehearsal is terrible so that the actual event will be great," says Thea Müller, laughing. Then nothing can go wrong...
On the premises of the FUTURE CRAFTS The remaining work is being done so that everything can start tomorrow. Candidate Anne, a master pastry chef from the Lake Constance region, feels a mixture of "tired and excited," as she says with a laugh in front of the stage where the grand finale will take place on Wednesday. "But definitely positively excited," she adds. Before the rehearsal, the candidates can learn about new shoes from sponsor Elten "They're personalized!" Anne exclaimed happily, while sponsorship manager Daniel Blümel welcomed the finalists. "We've been with you for almost a year now, and we've brought you these safety shoes as a small memento," he said. At the sponsor's booth SIGNAL IDUNA The new shoes are being tried on. "The shoes are comfortable and light; we also have Elten shoes at our company and are absolutely thrilled with them," says bodywork and vehicle construction master Andrei with satisfaction.
17:00 p.m.
The time has finally come! Almost all candidates – only master tile, slab and mosaic layer Danilo – were absent the day before the big election. Miss and Mister Crafts 2026 on the stage of the FUTURE CRAFTS Those who are ill in Munich and will hopefully join us tomorrow, Wednesday, have arrived at the hotel next to the ICM. The atmosphere is relaxed; everyone is meeting up and exchanging a few words. The eleven candidates present will soon be heading to a relaxed dinner together – but first, there's the dress rehearsal. Project manager Maren is handing out the sponsor's T-shirts. BP, which they will all wear on stage tomorrow on the big day. Some of them try on the T-shirt right away. Then it's time to settle in a bit before heading over to the trade fair.
Image gallery
There are still twelve days until the grand finale of this year's edition of Miss and Mister CraftsThe new representatives of the trades for a whole year will be presented on stage on Wednesday, March 4th, starting at 4:30 pm. FUTURE CRAFTS The election will take place at the ICM in Munich. Their team from Verlagsanstalt Handwerk will once again be there live this year, covering the election in words, pictures, and video.
We hope you enjoy reading along, getting caught up in the excitement, and celebrating with Miss and Mister Handwerk 2026!
Background: Jury Miss and Mister Crafts 2026 Jury Katja Lilu Melder, Miss Crafts 2025, Marius Hanten, Mister Handwerk 2025, Andreas Ehlert, President of the Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Crafts, Carola Zarth, President of the Berlin Chamber of Skilled Crafts, Torsten Uhlig, CEO of SIGNAL IDUNA, Kai Swoboda, Deputy Chairman of the Board of IKK classic, Louis Sütterlin, Sales Animation Manager, FIAT Professional, Daniel Blümel, Marketing and corporate communications, ELTEN safety shoes Jan Sielemann, Head of Marketing, BP Workwear, Claudia Stemick, German Crafts Journal, Publishing House for Crafts
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