During its budget deliberations at the January 22 meeting, the City Council decided to reduce the Cultural Affairs Office’s cost-cutting target by 80,000 euros. However, additional sources of revenue are to be tapped to finance the festival.
Additional Revenue Needed
Due to the challenging budget situation, the city of Erlangen is required to reduce spending on discretionary services. The resulting cost-cutting targets for the Cultural Affairs Office had led officials to conclude that it would be impossible to hold a Poets’ Festival in 2026 with the available funds. Even with the reduced savings target, financing remains a challenge: A festival shortened by one day—as was already the case in 2025—will still cost over 200,000 euros. The Cultural Affairs Office is therefore dependent on significant increases in revenue. In addition to an intensive search for additional sponsors, a donation account is to be set up, among other measures, at the suggestion of numerous citizens.
The Festival Is Part of Erlangen’s Identity
Culture Commissioner Anke Steinert-Neuwirth is relieved: “We now have a realistic foundation on which to begin planning this year’s Poets’ Festival. I couldn’t have imagined anything else.” Mayor Florian Janik emphasizes: “This festival is an integral part of our city’s cultural profile and enjoys great recognition far beyond Erlangen. I am certain that we will receive a great deal of support from the local community for this special festival.”
Every year on the last weekend of August, the Poet*innenfest marks the kickoff of the German “Bücherherbst” (Book Autumn). With numerous individual events centered on contemporary literature, it is one of the largest and most renowned literary festivals in the German-speaking world. Read more: www.poetenfest-erlangen.de
Poetenfest 2022 (Photo: Erich Malter)
A Small Selection: Culture in Erlangen
City Museum Erlangen
The city museum in the heart of the old town presents the history of the Erlangen region from the first traces of human life to the modern Siemens and university city of the 20th century.
Erlangen Art Museum
All information about the Erlangen Art Museum, current exhibitions and special exhibitions.
drama erlangen
Theater Erlangen is a spoken theater in Erlangen. Its venues are the Markgrafentheater, the Studiobühne in the Theater in der Garage and the traditional Erlangen cinema "Glocken-Lichtspiele". All information about the Erlangen theater, current schedule and events.
Kunstpalais Erlangen
Contemporary art in the heart of the city: All information about the Erlangen Kunstpalais, current exhibitions and special exhibitions.
International Comic Salon Erlangen
For decades, the Erlangen International Comic Salon has been the festival and venue for the largest and most important event for comic art and graphic literature in the German-speaking world.
International Figures. Theater. Festival
All information and the current program for the International figuren.theater.festival in Erlangen, Fürth and Nuremberg.
City Museum Erlangen
The city museum in the heart of the old town presents the history of the Erlangen region from the first traces of human life to the modern Siemens and university city of the 20th century.
Erlangen Art Museum
All information about the Erlangen Art Museum, current exhibitions and special exhibitions.
drama erlangen
Theater Erlangen is a spoken theater in Erlangen. Its venues are the Markgrafentheater, the Studiobühne in the Theater in der Garage and the traditional Erlangen cinema "Glocken-Lichtspiele". All information about the Erlangen theater, current schedule and events.
Kunstpalais Erlangen
Contemporary art in the heart of the city: All information about the Erlangen Kunstpalais, current exhibitions and special exhibitions.
International Comic Salon Erlangen
For decades, the Erlangen International Comic Salon has been the festival and venue for the largest and most important event for comic art and graphic literature in the German-speaking world.
International Figures. Theater. Festival
All information and the current program for the International figuren.theater.festival in Erlangen, Fürth and Nuremberg.