Flensburg Literary Days

Literature in special places

Since its inception, the Flensburg Literary Days have established themselves as a festival with a strong sense of place. Instead of classic bookstore or library readings, the organisers choose venues that tell a story themselves: the windmill above the bay, the Maritime Museum on the harbour, the paddle steamer 'Alexandra' — the last seaworthy saloon steamer of its kind in Germany. Each year, this creates a blend of literature, city history, and harbour romance that is unique to Flensburg.

Border Crossers — the 2026 motto

The motto 'Border Crossers — Stories from the North' will focus on the German-Danish border region in 2026. Around 20 authors will be invited, whose works deal with themes of borders, migration, dual identities, and the North German-Scandinavian connection. In parallel, the Museumsberg Flensburg will open its spring exhibition — in 2026, on the theme of German-Danish art relations.

Flensburg as a literary hub

Flensburg is home to the European University, the Schleswig-Holstein State Museums Foundation, and a vibrant book trade and literary scene with publishing houses like Husum Verlag and several independent bookshops. The Literary Days build on this tradition, attracting readers and writers from across northern Germany and Denmark.

The paddle steamer 'Alexandra'

A symbol of the festival is the paddle steamer 'Alexandra': built in Flensburg in 1908 and restored several times, the ship once again steams across Flensburg Fjord in the summer. Readings on board — accompanied by the rhythm of the engines, harbour views, and circling seagulls — are among the most sought-after programme items of the Literary Days.