MARGA Online Competition 2025/2026

After an exciting and eventful two-day live final, the winning team of this year's MARGA Online Competition has been announced!

Author: Daniele Kilian

Published on: May 22, 2026 Last updated: May 22, 2026

Categorie: Online Competition

4 Min. Reading time:

The MARGA Awards are lined up on a table

MARGA Online Competition 2025/2026

Who claimed the title of MARGA Champion in the grand final?

This year, the MARGA Online Competition once again more than lived up to its reputation as a demanding stage for emerging leaders. Numerous talents from national and international companies competed against each other: head-to-head, in a highly dynamic virtual market, and under realistic conditions.

Over several months, participants immersed themselves deeply in business management concepts, developed their strategic thinking, and sharpened their decision-making skills. But above all, one thing took center stage: not just understanding management, but actively experiencing it and applying it in a practical, hands-on way.

With the final round, the competition ultimately reached its peak. Four top teams, one goal: the title of “MARGA Champion.”

The Competition: From the main round to the grand final

Kick-off in fall 2025

In November 2025, the starting signal was given for this year’s competition. 25 highly motivated teams entered the race,. All determined to prove themselves in a challenging market environment.

The first two test rounds offered space to get settled: participants familiarized themselves with the simulation, analyzed initial market dynamics, and tested different strategic approaches. But it quickly became clear: this competition would be anything but a walk in the park.

With the start of the main round, the intensity increased significantly. Over five consecutive game periods, the teams faced the core challenges of entrepreneurial decision-making:

conducting well-founded market analyses
developing sustainable competitive strategies
producing products efficiently and positioning them effectively
managing financial resources and making smart investment decisions

Every decision had a direct impact on market share, business success, and each team’s position in the rankings.

The result: constant changes at the top, narrow margins, and a competition that remained wide open until the very end.

In the end, four teams qualified for the final and for the very first time, three of them came from the same company:

Team 19 from Goldbeck
Team 18 from Goldbeck
Team 17 from Goldbeck
Team 13 from TKMS

Graphik, die die TOP 4 Unternehmen zeigen

The Final Round: Decision-making under pressure

New starting point, new strategy

With the move into the final, the game effectively started all over again. However, a new and challenging initial situation forced all teams to rethink, adapt, or completely reset their strategies. Over five additional game periods, it became clear what truly mattered now:

Who can apply their management know-how most effectively?
Who responds fastest to changes in the market?
And which team continues to perform as a true unit under maximum pressure?

The MARGA business simulation is deliberately designed to reflect an economic environment shaped by uncertainty just like the real world. Global tensions, volatile markets, and increasing protectionism are not side notes, but key influencing factors.

For the finalist teams, this meant one thing above all: strategies not only had to be well thought out, but above all flexible. Those who planned too rigidly fell behind. Those who reacted too slowly lost ground.

High tension in the final period

The first four periods of the final round already pushed the teams to their limits. Decisions had to be made quickly, precisely, and under intense time pressure—with tangible consequences. The climax followed at the grand final event on May 21 and 22, 2026. In the all-decisive final game period, the teams had exactly 90 minutes to make their last decisions. Ninety minutes that revealed who could keep their nerve, set clear priorities, and understand the market best.

The tension was palpable. Every decision could tip the balance. Every adjustment could make the difference. Until the very last minute, it remained uncertain: which team would be crowned “MARGA Champion 2025/2026”?

Award ceremony and a shared conclusion

On the second day of the final event, the finalist teams, the MARGA team, and company representatives came together for the festive award ceremony. The focus was on pride in their achievements, team spirit and of course, the big question: Who would win the title?

After a strong performance, Team 19 from Goldbeck was able to prevail against the strong competition with a clear lead of 173 million Euro. Followed by Team 18 from Goldbeck, which, after a strong race to catch up, was no longer able to secure victory, but secured second rank. They were followed by Team 17 from Goldbeck. Team 13 from TKMS took fourth place, not giving up and finishing in a strong fourth place.

After the winners were announced, the win wass celebrated. The joy and relief were palpable as the teams and their supporters came together to share this special moment.

The MARGA Online Competition is more than just a competition. It’s an interactive management training program that uniquely combines theory and practice. All participants take away not only valuable knowledge but also new perspectives, personal development, and important impulses for their future careers.

We congratulate Team 19 from Goldbeck on their outstanding success and are already looking forward to the next competition!