Name: 46. Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026 2026
Start: 2026-08-28T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-30T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Schlossgarten Erlangen / Markgrafentheater

Erlanger Poet*innenfest

About Erlanger Poet*innenfest

The Erlanger Poet*innenfest is one of the largest literary festivals in the German-speaking world and traditionally opens the literary autumn book season on the last weekend of August. The 46th edition will take place from August 28 to 30, 2026. Over 80 writers, literary critics, publicists, and academics will be guests. The centerpiece is the long reading afternoons in the baroque Erlangen Palace Garden with half-hour readings on the main stage and moderated discussions on the side stages, plus author portraits in the Markgrafentheater. The vast majority of events are free of charge.

Dates 28 Aug — 30 Aug 2026

Venue Erlangen (09562)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Erlanger Poet*innenfest — edition 2026

The 46th Erlanger Poet*innenfest runs from Friday, August 28, to Sunday, August 30, 2026, in the Erlangen Palace Garden and the Markgrafentheater. Over 80 writers, critics, and publicists will present around 100 events. The detailed program will be published on July 31, 2026, and advance ticket sales for evening events requiring tickets will start on August 1, 2026.

The Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026 opens the literary autumn book season on the last weekend of August. As every year, the long reading afternoons in the baroque Palace Garden form the centerpiece: half-hour readings on the main stage, followed by moderated discussions on the side stages. In the evenings, detailed author portraits take place in the Markgrafentheater.

According to the organizers, the complete lineup will be announced on July 31, 2026, and a printed program booklet will follow in mid-August. Until then, the proven structure remains: reading afternoons, author portraits, picture book readings for children, programs for young audiences, and a print workshop. Specific names will not be mentioned until the official program release.

Highlights Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026

Long reading afternoons in the baroque Palace Garden, author portraits at the Markgrafentheater, over 80 authors, around 100 events. Specific program from July 31, 2026.

Programme Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026

Program Structure Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026

Venues: Erlangen Palace Garden (Reading Afternoons) and Markgrafentheater (Author Portraits). Three days, Friday to Sunday.

Friday, August 28

Festival opening and first readings in the Palace Garden
Evening: Author portrait at the Markgrafentheater

Saturday, August 29

Long reading afternoon in the Palace Garden — half-hour readings on the main stage, moderated discussions on the side stages
Picture book readings for children, program for young audiences, print workshop
Evening: Author portrait at the Markgrafentheater

Sunday, August 30

Long reading afternoon in the Palace Garden
Closing event

The specific lineup with around 80 authors will be published on July 31, 2026. Program: poetenfest-erlangen.de.

Prices Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026

The vast majority of events are free. Advance sales for evening events requiring tickets (including author portraits) start August 1, 2026.

Practical information

Practical information — Erlanger Poet*innenfest

Getting There

Erlangen Main Station, a few minutes' walk to the Palace Garden and the Markgrafentheater. By car via the A 73 (Erlangen-Zentrum exit). Parking garages in the city center.

Admission

The vast majority of events are free. Tickets are available for selected evening events (including author portraits in the Markgrafentheater); advance sales start August 1, 2026.

Program

Program release July 31, 2026, at poetenfest-erlangen.de, program booklet mid-August. Newsletter via [email protected].

Literary Festival in the Palace Garden

Since 1980, the Erlanger Poet*innenfest has transformed the Central Franconian university city into a meeting point for contemporary German-language literature at the end of August each year. With over 80 female authors, critics, and publicists and around 100 events, it is one of the largest literary festivals in the German-speaking world and is considered the unofficial start of the literary autumn book season.

Long Reading Afternoons and Author Portraits

The focus is on the long reading afternoons in the baroque Palace Garden: half-hour readings on the main stage, followed by moderated discussions on the side stages. In the evenings, detailed author portraits take place in the Markgrafentheater. There are also picture book readings for children, programs for young audiences, and a print workshop. The program will be published on July 31, 2026, advance ticket sales start on August 1, and a detailed program booklet will be released in mid-August.

Erlangen — University City in Central Franconia

Erlangen is located in the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt, in the state of Bavaria, between Nuremberg and Bamberg. Home to the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität and a major Siemens location, the city, with its baroque Palace Garden, offers one of the most beautiful open-air settings for a literary festival in Germany.