Congress in Munich: Miss and Mister Crafts 2026 elected

At the Future of Craftsmanship Congress in Munich, funeral director Emily Maichle and plasterer Maximilian Buerger were elected Miss and Mister Craftsmanship 2026. They will now represent the skilled trades for one year.

It's that time again, to The election is being held for the 16th time. from Miss and Mister Crafts at the congress Future Crafts im ICM Munich It's early March, still cold and foggy outside, while inside the hustle and bustle is already in full swing on the day before the actual election on Wednesday, March 4th. Eleven of the twelve candidates are already there – only tile, slab, and mosaic layer Danilo Kneiss is still absent due to illness; he will arrive the next morning.

The joy of seeing each other again is palpable, the atmosphere relaxed, as they head to the fairgrounds for their first rehearsal in the early evening. Time is running out before the election, but there's still a lot to organize and clarify before the two jury members are finally chosen. Torsten Uhlig, Chairman of the Board of Signal Iduna, and Kai Swoboda, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of IKK classic, who will announce the two winners.

Twelve winners – two titleholders

Even though only two hold the title, all the finalists are outstanding representatives of their craft.

The ten jury members felt like they needed an eternity to reach their decision, which they described as a "close call". Andreas Ehlert, President of the Chamber of Crafts Düsseldorf, later that evening at the after-election party in the "Inn in the Au" says where at the same time The 100th anniversary of the publishing house Handwerk will be duly celebrated.Ehlert puts it even more clearly: "It's never been so close before that we as a jury said that basically anyone could have won." But of course that's not possible, because even in the 16th election there can only be two winners – Funeral director Emily Maichle from Geislingen auf der Steige Miss Handwerk 2026 is in Baden-Württemberg, Plasterer Maximilian Buerger from Wetter an der Ruhr is Mister Handwerk 2026. They ultimately prevailed against the strong competition in this round.

The journey there was a long one for the duo – from the application to the first voting phase, then the news of having made it to the next round, the calendar shoot, the final voting, and finally the journey to MunichAn undoubtedly exciting ride for all twelve candidates. The competition period was packed with exciting activities from and with the sponsors Signal Iduna, IKK classic, and... Fiat Professional, Elten and BP WorkwearThe two winners will now receive a trip with a €1.000 voucher from schauinsland-reisenDespite all the commotion, one thing is clear – the atmosphere among the contestants is good. Or, as candidate Anne-Katharina Blatter-Miredin, a pastry chef from the Lake Constance region, puts it shortly before the rehearsal:Tired, excited – but positive!"

Excitement, joy and winnings

Photo: © Thomas Plettenberg

There can only be two, everyone knows that.And so, on the afternoon of the competition, they present themselves on stage in the freshest and most engaging way possible, hoping to convince the jury of their skills and expertise. Emily Maichle and Maximilian Buerger can hardly believe it when they are called to the stage to receive their golden helmets and sashes – and are also delighted to receive a travel voucher from schauinsland-Reisen.

""I'm completely overwhelmed, I haven't really grasped it yet," says the undertaker on her way to the election party.For the young woman, it is a "huge opportunity to introduce the funeral director's trade and the craft itself to young people in particular". Just like Mister Handwerk, she is also delighted to receive a Fiat Professional car, equipped to meet her needs and made available to her for a year."I can really use it, especially for flowers and decorations," she says. Her father accompanied her to the election. "Dad is so happy for me," Emily Maichle says, laughing.

Plastering trade: Increase apprentice numbers and inspire apprentices

"The tension is gone," says Maximilian Buerger.I'm calmer now, I'm really looking forward to the coming year, I stand for my craft and want to reach out to people and inspire them with it."“That’s what the young master craftsman says. He was accompanied by Oliver Hartmann and Dirk Berkemeyer from [company name].” Plasterers Association of North Rhine-Westphalia.

"My aim is also to increase the number of new trainees in the plastering trade." We've only had 800 to 850 trainees nationwide recently; there's room for improvement."Mr. Craftsman is convinced. Of course, he too can make good use of the Fiat Professional vehicle in his daily work. As for the trip, however, he, like Miss Craftswoman Emily Maichle, is still undecided. "We'll see, first we celebrate," they both say in unison.

The season for Miss & Mister Handwerk 2027 has already started.. Still until April 30th Craftspeople can apply for the next round. Voting is open until May 25th. Participate yourself or vote for your favorites every hour – the skilled trades are looking for their ambassadors for 2027!
missmisterhandwerk.de/bewerbung

The juryThis year's jury consisted of: Katja Lilu Melder (Miss Crafts 2025), Marius Karl Hanten (Mister Handwerk 2025),Andreas Ehlert (President of the Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Crafts),Carola Zarth (President of the Berlin Chamber of 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) and Claudia Stemick (German Crafts Journal, Publishing House Crafts)

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