Erlangen Poet*innenfest

A Literary Festival with Its Own Signature

The Erlanger Poet*innenfest – known as Erlanger Poetenfest until 2018 – was founded in 1980 and is one of the largest and most renowned literary festivals in the German-speaking world. It takes place every year on the last weekend of August, organized by the Culture Department of the City of Erlangen with Sparkasse Erlangen as the main sponsor. The focus is on contemporary German-language literature, translation, and literary criticism – the festival serves as a showcase, workshop, and discussion forum all at once.

The Schlossgarten as a Reading Stage

The central venue is the Schlossgarten behind Erlangen Castle, an 18th-century baroque park. A main stage with open-air seating, plus several smaller reading podiums distributed throughout the park. Thirty-minute readings take place throughout the garden during the day – visitors move between stages, discovering voices they may not have known before. In the evenings, the program moves to the Markgrafentheater, an 18th-century baroque theatre hall, where in-depth author portraits with readings and moderated discussions are held.

Program Structure

The festival annually offers around 100 events with approximately 80 authors:

• Readings followed by moderated discussions
• Author portraits at the Markgrafentheater in the evening
• Discussion panels on current social and political issues
• Program for children and families with picture book readings and print workshops
• Critic talks and workshop discussions on literary studies
• Translation poetics and discussions on publishing work

Admission to the Schlossgarten readings is free; events at the Markgrafentheater require tickets and often sell out quickly.

Erlangen, a University City with a Literary Tradition

Erlangen is located in Middle Franconia in the state of Bavaria and is one of the most important university cities in southern Germany (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg). Its literary tradition dates back a long way – the Poet*innenfest is now part of the city's cultural identity. In 2026, the festival was saved after a controversial debate in the city council over the cultural budget (over €200,000), marking its 46th edition.

International Significance

The Erlanger Poet*innenfest is closely watched throughout the German-speaking literary scene: those who read there gain recognition. Many authors who are now prominent had their first major readings in Erlangen. Renowned publishers, critics from major cultural sections (FAZ, SZ, Zeit, NZZ), and radio play producers from public broadcasters are among the regular audience.