In 2026, the 21st Antonia Award will be presented to a Finnish-Swedish work that has shown artistic bravery and diversity. The award is named after one of the festival’s founders, Antonia Ringbom, and the jury changes every year, consisting of various professional groups in the art field. Next year will also mark the award’s 20th anniversary.
The 2026 jury consists of theatre critics Tomas Jansson (chairperson), Vilhelmina Öhman, Lasse Garoff and Rakel Similä.
Tomas Jansson is a cultural journalist at Svenska Yle. He has written about and reviewed theatre for various medias since the late 1980s. He is also an author and a playwright. Jansson was also one of the founders of the Antonia Award in 2006.
Vilhelmina Öhman is a cultural journalist at Vasabladet. She has written reviews for various magazines and newspapers for the last ten years.
Lasse Garoff is a performance art critic at Svenska Yle. He has also written eight plays and created comic strips for Studentbladet, Arbetarbladet and Ny Tid.
Rakel Similä is a critic and a cultural journalist. She writes about both literature and theatre, mainly for Hufvudstadsblafet.
The Antonia Award will be presented during Hangö Teaterträff 2026, which will be celebrated on 5–7 June.