The Grand Prix der Volksmusik (English: Grand Prix of Folk Music) is an annual regional song contest for folk music, first held in 1986. The countries taking part are Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy (South Tyrol).
The competition, established by Hans Beierlein (Hans Rudolf Beierlein), began with Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1986, and the first year it was held in Vienna. In 1989, the German singer Stefan Mross won the contest competing for Austria. In 1990, the South Tyrol group Kastelruther Spatzen won the contest competing for Germany. In 1995, Géraldine Olivier won the contest for Switzerland after having won the Swiss national contest for the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest with Soleil, soleil, which was disqualified before the contest was held. Since 2000, when they won at the first attempt, South Tyrol has also competed.
The program is produced by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Förderung der musikalischen Unterhaltung (English: Working Group for the Advancement of Musical Entertainment) as a coproduction of ZDF, SF DRS, ORF and Rai Sender Bozen. The target group of the production is adults from the age of 40 onwards. Each of the four countries competing sends in four entries.
1986 Vienna: Nella Martinetti (Switzerland) – Bella Musica1987 Hanover: Maja Brunner (Switzerland) – Das kommt uns spanisch vor1988 Zürich: Original Naabtal Duo (Germany) – Patrona Bavariae1989 Linz: Stefan Mross (Austria) – Heimwehmelodie1990 Saarbrücken: Kastelruther Spatzen (Germany) – Tränen passen nicht zu dir1991 Innsbruck: Alpentrio Tirol (Austria) – Hast a bisserl Zeit für mi1992 Zürich: Stefanie Hertel (Germany) – Über jedes Bacherl geht a Brückerl1993 Rostock: Die jungen Klostertaler (Austria) – An a Wunder hob i g'laubt1994 Zürich: Henry Arland with Hansi and Maxi (Germany) – Echo der Berge1995 Vienna: Géraldine Olivier (Switzerland) – Nimm dir wieder einmal Zeit1996 Mainz: Daniela und Dirk (Switzerland) – Monte Cristallo1997 Zürich: Sandra Weiss (Switzerland) – Ich suche nicht das Paradies1998 Vienna: Francine Jordi (Switzerland) – Das Feuer der Sehnsucht1999 Erfurt: Monique (Switzerland) – Einmal so, einmal so2000 Zürich: Oswald Sattler and Jantje Smit (South Tyrol) – Ich zeig dir die Berge2001 Vienna: Marianne Cathomen (Switzerland) – Hey Baby, küss mich noch mal2002 Meran: Nockalm Quintett and Stephanie (Austria) – Dort auf Wolke Sieben2003 Rust: Marc Pircher (Austria) – Hey Diandl, spürst es so wia i2004 Vienna: Die Ladiner (South Tyrol) – Beuge dich vor grauem Haar2005 Zürich: Die Psayrer mit Barbara (South Tyrol) – Berge im Feuer2006 Munich: Rudy Giovannini, Belsy and the Coro Monti Pallidi (South Tyrol) – Salve Regina2007 Vienna: Sigrid & Marina with the Zillertaler Haderlumpen (Austria) – Alles hat zwei Seiten2008 Zürich: Die Klostertaler (Austria) – Heimat ist dort wo die Berge sind2009 Munich: Vincent und Fernando (South Tyrol) – Der Engel von Marienberg2010 Vienna: Belsy and Florian Fesl (Germany) - I hab Di gern
