Bielefeld Literature Days

Bielefeld's Six-Week Literary Season

The Bielefeld Literature Days have been the central platform for literature in the East Westphalian metropolis since 1996. What began as a small reading series has developed into a six-week season with 10 to 12 events and over 1,000 annual visitors. The 28th edition will take place from May 12 to June 23, 2026 — and as always, it offers a mix of current German fiction, non-fiction, regional voices, and accompanying musical programs.

Main Venue — City Library at Neumarkt

The Bielefeld City Library at Neumarkt 1, in the heart of the city center, is the hub of the Literature Days. The spacious library with its modern event hall provides the ideal setting for readings and discussions — from intimate formats for 50 people to larger evenings with 200+ guests. Individual events may also be held in other venues in the city (theaters, bookstores, churches).

The 2026 Program — Who's Coming?

Already confirmed for the 28th Bielefeld Literature Days are, among others:

• Frauke Buchholz — Crime novel author
• Rebekka Endler — Non-fiction author (“Das Patriarchat der Dinge”)
• Marion Brasch — Writer and radio host (“Ab jetzt ist Ruhe”)
• Andrej Murašov — Author with Slavic roots, German-language literature

The complete program with dates, times, tickets, and detailed venues will be published in spring 2026 on stadtbibliothek-bielefeld.de and bielefeld.jetzt.

Musical Accompaniment — Present from the Start

A special feature of the Bielefeld Literature Days: music has been an integral part since the first edition in 1996. Readings are often accompanied by small ensembles, solo musicians, or choirs — a consistent curatorial line that lends the evenings a unique atmosphere. Some readings even combine text and music into integrated programs — actors read, musicians play in parallel or in dialogue with the text.

Bielefeld as a Literary City

With over 330,000 inhabitants, Bielefeld is the largest city in Ostwestfalen and an important university and publishing center. The city is home to a strong literary scene with independent bookstores, literary courses at Bielefeld University, the renowned Aisthesis Verlag, and an active slam poetry scene. The Literature Days serve as the annual showcase for this scene, bringing authors from across the German-speaking world to Westphalia.

An Established Tradition

With 28 years of uninterrupted history, the Literature Days are among the longest-running festivals in Ostwestfalen. The City Library has consistently expanded the format without losing its intimate, quality-oriented character. Anyone looking for literature in Bielefeld goes to the City Library in May and June — and finds readings, discussions, music, and conversations with authors there.

What Sets the Literature Days Apart

Compared to major literary festivals like the Leipzig Book Fair or lit.cologne, the Bielefeld Literature Days consciously focus on depth rather than breadth: fewer events, but each with time, space, and attention for the author, the work, and the audience. A format that has developed its own profile in the fast-paced world of the literary business.