African Book Festival Berlin

In 2026, InterKontinental e.V. is adopting a participatory curatorial approach: voices from the audience, bookstores, and diaspora communities will be involved in shaping the program. Three days of readings, book premieres, workshops, discussions, music, and theater performances, as well as an open-air market with African cuisine and handicrafts. Tickets via Fyneevent, details on africanbookfestival.de.

The African Book Festival Berlin 2026 will take place from May 29 to 31, 2026 at TAK — Theater im Aufbau Haus, Prinzenstraße 85 F, 10969 Berlin-Kreuzberg. This year's edition will be curated together with the audience for the first time, according to InterKontinental e.V. – the exact program structure, list of authors, and thematic strands will be published in the weeks before the festival begins on africanbookfestival.de and via newsletters.

Program Formats (typical according to organizers)

• Readings and Book Presentations – established and new voices of African and Afro-diasporic literature, often in the original English with German translation
• Panels and Discussions – moderated conversations on topics such as colonial legacies, migration, identity, language, and diaspora politics
• Workshops – interactive formats for aspiring writers and for diaspora communities
• Theater and Musical Contributions – performance program in the TAK theater
• Art Exhibitions – visual contributions in the foyer areas
• Open-Air Market – books, African cuisine, handicrafts on Moritzplatz

Previous festival themes have revolved around identity, postcolonialism, resistance, and love. The African Book Festival is considered the most important platform for African and Black literature in the German-speaking world.

• First edition curated participatively with the audience
• Three days of readings, panels, and workshops at TAK Theater
• Open-air market with books, African cuisine, and handicrafts
• In the heart of Berlin-Kreuzberg at Moritzplatz

Getting There

U-Bahn U8 to Moritzplatz — directly in front of the entrance. Moritzplatz bus stop (lines 140, M29). The Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district is easily accessible by bicycle.

Tickets

Tickets are available via the Fyneevent platform and at africanbookfestival.de. Day passes and festival passes are usually offered – a portion of the events (market, outdoor areas) is freely accessible.