46. Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026
Long reading afternoons in the Erlangen Palace Garden
About Erlanger Poet*innenfest
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Erlanger Poet*innenfest al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
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.
Erlanger Poet*innenfest — edition 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.
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.
Highlights Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026
Prices Erlanger Poet*innenfest 2026
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].
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Erlanger Poet*innenfest al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Erlanger Poet*innenfest
Schlossgarten Erlangen / Markgrafentheater