Optimism in Difficult Times – From August 28 to 30, more than 80 writers, journalists, and scholars will once again be guests in Erlangen. During the long afternoons of readings in the Erlangen Palace Gardens, Helene Bukowski, Miriam Carbe, Elena Fischer, Anja Gmeinwieser, Lena Gorelik, Norbert Gstrein, Sabrina Janesch, Thilo Krause, Son Lewandowski, Ilija Matusko, Christoph Peters, Kerstin Preiwuß, Lena Schätte, Nea Schmidt, Nadine Schneider, Alexander Schnickmann, Thomas von Steinaecker, Karosh Taha, Kinga Toth, and Dana Vowinckel will present their new books. The evening author profiles are dedicated to Lukas Bärfuss, Alex Capus, and Gabriele von Arnim. Talks and discussions will address how we perceive our present, the special relationship with one’s mother, the welfare state and its reform, U.S. politics, the courage to face life despite the crisis, global autocratic tendencies, writing in times of war, the question of social media regulation, and the connection between the economy and war. The program also includes the Bayern 2 live broadcast “Die Zwei vor Ort,” recordings of the “Buchgefühl” podcast, as well as the TikTok series “Literally,” an open-air poetry slam, the book art exhibition “Druck & Buch,” an extensive film program, and events for children and families. Around 12,000 visitors are expected once again.
The first author profile of the 46th Erlangen Poets’ Festival is dedicated to Swiss author Lukas Bärfuss, who will speak with Maike Albath about his literary work. The Georg Büchner Prize winner’s most recent publication is the autobiographical essay *Queen of the Night: A Short Book About My Mother*. (August 28, 8:30 p.m.) A natural storyteller who loves to entertain his audience is the Swiss writer Alex Capus. He’ll demonstrate this in a conversation with Dirk Kruse and present his latest novel, “Querfeldein.” (August 29, 8:30 p.m.) To conclude the Poet*innenfest, Anne-Dore Krohn will speak with journalist and author Gabriele von Arnim. As an essayist and tender storyteller, she has written bestsellers such as “Das Leben ist ein vorübergehender Zustand” and, most recently, “Abschied leben.” (August 30, 8:00 p.m.)
During the long afternoons of readings in the palace gardens (August 29 and 30), the following authors will read from their new publications at half-hour intervals: Helene Bukowski, Miriam Carbe, Elena Fischer, Anja Gmeinwieser, Lena Gorelik, Norbert Gstrein, Sabrina Janesch, Thilo Krause, Son Lewandowski, Ilija Matusko, Christoph Peters, Kerstin Preiwuß, Ingeborg Bachmann Prize winner Lena Schätte, Nea Schmidt, Nadine Schneider, Alexander Schnickmann, Thomas von Steinaecker, Karosh Taha, Kinga Toth, and Dana Vowinckel. For children and teens, readings will be given by Falk Holzapfel, Massuda Kassem, Anne-Dore Krohn and Wiebke Nieland, Matthias Kröner, Una López-Caparrós Jungmann, Andrea Schomburg, Louisa Söllner, and Efua Traoré. A picture book reading area and a printing workshop round out the family program.
On Saturday, Bayern 2 will be broadcasting live from the Orangery in the Erlangen Palace Gardens: Niels Beintker and Judith Heitkamp will present the latest books by Miriam Carbe, Ilija Matusko, Kerstin Preiwuß, and Thomas von Steinaecker on the live show “Die Zwei vor Ort.” In addition, two episodes of the podcast “Buchgefühl” will be recorded; these will be broadcast on Bayern 2 at a later date and released on the podcast of the same name—Judith Heitkamp will speak with Karosh Taha, and Niels Beintker with Radka Denemarková. As part of the new TikTok series “ARD Literally: Reading with…,” Miriam Fendt will talk with Mithu Sanyal about Emily Brontë’s timeless classic “Wuthering Heights” at kubic.
Florian Schroeder, Liya Yu, and Mirjam Zadoff explore “how we perceive our present.” Lena Gorelik, Marlen Hobrack, and Sarah Trentzsch discuss “Mothers—a Special Relationship.” In the current panel discussion “The State and the Social Question,” Christoph Butterwegge, Ines Verspohl, Georg Cremer (TBD), and a representative from the ifo Institute (TBD) discuss ideas for a contemporary welfare state model in conversation with Korbinian Frenzel. Jiffer Bourguignon and Aaron Wiener shed light on current U.S. politics, while Gabriele von Arnim and Mirjam Zadoff discuss how to find courageous optimism in difficult times. The traditional Sunday matinee is titled “Autocratization Everywhere.” Nana Brink, along with Klaus Brinkbäumer, Gabriele Riedle, Claudia Zilla, and Natalie Amiri (TBD), will focus on the growing trend of autocratization worldwide. Salim Alafenisch, Atefeh Chaharmahaliyan, and Tomer Gardi, together with Cornelia Zetzsche, will explore writing in times of war and crisis. Young people will discuss the dangers of social media with Jakob Hein and Nina Kolleck. Ulrike Herrmann and Mithu Sanyal will discuss how money is used as a weapon.
Young voices in literature are introduced by authors Sharon Dodua Otoo and Mithu Sanyal: They are “accomplices” of Jessica Mawuena Lawson and Aidin Halimi. Elena Fischer and Helene Bukowski will also be reading at senior centers in Erlangen, while Lea Schmocker and Izabella Effenberg will be guests at kubic with their musical reading dedicated to Adelheid Duvanel. The Open Air Poetry Slam will showcase some of the best literary performers in the garden of the E-Werk, and in collaboration with the Lamm-Lichtspiele, a series of film adaptations of literary works will be screened. At an event hosted by the vhs Erlangen Reading Café, Heike Specht will present her new novel.
The H5 in Röthelheimpark is contributing a series of its own events this year: It will present a reading by Gunna Wendt as well as “New Texts & Bright Sounds” with Nora Gomringer and members of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. The exhibition “Heike Bogenberger – In the Moment. A Photographic Encounter with the People Behind the Stories” is also on view at H5. To mark the exhibition “What’s So Funny? The Comic Art of Walter Moers,” the Erlangen City Museum offers a glimpse into Walter Moers’s literary work: Publisher Wolfgang Ferchl comments on a reading from the Zamonia novels and speaks with curator Christine Vogt; book designer Oliver Schmitt discusses the creative process behind the books as total works of art; and miniature artist Katharina Raab brings her fantastical worlds to life. “Quantastic Comics” is presented by the Comicmuseum e. V.’s event and exhibition space, and the “Print & Book” exhibition showcases bibliophile treasures. Le Millipede will provide the soundtrack for the festival in the castle gardens.
The hosts of the 46th Erlangen Poets’ Festival are Maike Albath, Niels Beintker, Nana Brink, Friederike Brinkmann, Miriam Fendt, Korbinian Frenzel, Judith Heitkamp, Anne-Dore Krohn, Dirk Kruse, Kathi Mock, Lara Sielmann, Beate Tröger, and Cornelia Zetzsche.
This year—as in 2025—the Erlangen Poetry Festival will not begin until Friday. Due to the city of Erlangen’s budget situation, the festival will once again be one day shorter this year. Nevertheless, most events will remain free of charge, though donations are welcome.
The Stadt- und Kreissparkasse Erlangen Höchstadt Herzogenaurach will be the main sponsor of the Erlangen Poets’ Festival for the eighth time in 2026. As a market-leading financial services provider and a driving force for economic growth, it plays an important role in the region. As a regional credit institution, it has been taking responsibility in a variety of ways for the people living in the region for nearly 200 years. The profits generated through market competition form the basis for its social commitment. Committed to the common good, it supports the Erlangen Poets’ Festival to enrich cultural offerings and social discourse in the region.
Media partners of the 46th Erlangen Poets’ Festival: Erlanger Nachrichten and Bayern 2. The 46th Erlangen Poets’ Festival is supported by funds from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts’ literature promotion program.
