Name: Hamburger Krimifestival 2026
Start: 2026-11-10T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-11-14T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Kampnagel

Krimifestival Hamburg

About Krimifestival Hamburg

From November 10 to 14, 2026, the Kampnagel cultural center will transform into a stage for uncanny stories and murderous narratives. The 19th edition of the Hamburger Krimifestival brings together around 40 crime authors from Germany and abroad for readings, workshop discussions, panels, and surprising encounters. A pre-event in Bergedorf in April 2026 will kick off the festival season.

Dates 10 Nov — 14 Nov 2026

Venue Hamburg (02000)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Krimifestival Hamburg — edition 2026

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The 19th edition of the Hamburger Krimifestival runs from November 10 to 14, 2026, at Kampnagel. Around 40 crime authors from Germany and abroad will read, discuss, and hold workshop sessions. A pre-event in Bergedorf on April 22, 2026, kicks off the festival season.

2026 Edition — 19th Festival

The festival returns to Kampnagel for five days in 2026. The organizers are Jacob Böhlke, Amelie Deuflhard (Kampnagel), and Christian Heymann (Buchhandlung Heymann). Approximately 40 crime authors are expected – exact names and program will be announced successively on krimifestival-hamburg.de.

Highlights Krimifestival Hamburg 2026

19th edition – one of Germany's most renowned literary festivals
~40 crime authors from home and abroad
Pre-event April 22, 2026, in Bergedorf
Alliance of Heymann, Hamburger Abendblatt, and Literaturhaus Hamburg

Programme Krimifestival Hamburg 2026

Program Structure

April 22, 2026 – Pre-event in Bergedorf (opening event of the festival season)
November 10, 2026 (Tue) – Festival opening at Kampnagel, first readings in the evening
November 11–13, 2026 – Main festival days with parallel readings, workshop discussions, and panels
November 14, 2026 (Sat) – Festival closing with major readings and closing reception

Format Types

Author readings (classic, moderated)
Workshop discussions on the writing process
Thematic panels (e.g., True Crime, research methods, translation work)
Staged readings and special formats

Detailed hourly schedule and author list will be published gradually starting September 2026.

Prices Krimifestival Hamburg 2026

Individual events with separate tickets (typically 15–25 EUR). Festival passes may be available. Sales via Heymann branches, Hamburger Abendblatt, Kampnagel box office, and kampnagel.de.

Practical information

Practical information — Krimifestival Hamburg

Date

November 10 to 14, 2026.

Pre-Event

April 2026 in Bergedorf (Bergedorf borough).

Main Venue

Kampnagel, Jarrestraße 20, 22303 Hamburg.

Tickets

Heymann branches, Hamburger Abendblatt, Kampnagel box office, kampnagel.de.

Getting There

Subway: U3 Hamburger Straße (8 minutes on foot).

North Germany's Largest Crime Festival

The Hamburger Krimifestival is one of the most distinguished literary festivals in the German-speaking world – and by far the largest for the crime literature genre. It has been organized since 2008 by an alliance of three Hamburg institutions: Buchhandlung Heymann (one of Hamburg's oldest bookstores with several branches), Hamburger Abendblatt (daily newspaper), and Literaturhaus Hamburg. This sponsoring structure gives the festival an unusual mix of bookstore pragmatism, media reach, and literary ambition.

Kampnagel as the Main Venue

The main venue is Kampnagel at Jarrestraße 20 – the former machine factory in the Winterhude or Barmbek-Süd district (Hamburg-Nord borough), which has been one of Germany's most important independent theaters and performance venues since the 1980s. During the festival days, several halls will be used in parallel: the main stage for the big names, smaller stages for intimate readings and workshop discussions.

40 Authors from Home and Abroad

The festival brings around 40 crime authors to its stages every year. German bestselling authors such as Sebastian Fitzek, Nele Neuhaus, and Volker Kutscher have been regular guests in recent years, complemented by international guests from Scandinavia (Camilla Läckberg, Jo Nesbø), the English-speaking world (Karin Slaughter), and France. The exact lineup for 2026 will be announced successively in the months leading up to the festival.

Formats

The program includes:

Readings – classic author readings with moderated discussions
Workshop discussions – authors explain their writing process, research, and construction
Panels – discussions on thematic focuses (e.g., "Crime and Politics", "True Crime in Literature")
Special formats – occasionally also staged readings, film screenings, encounters with translators

Pre-Event in Bergedorf

A special feature of the festival is the pre-event in April 2026 – held in advance in Bergedorf, as an opening salute to the festival season. This extends the festival's reach beyond the five main festival days.

Ticket Sales

Tickets are available through the Heymann bookstores, the office of the Hamburger Abendblatt (Großer Burstah 18–32), and the Kampnagel box office. Online sales are available via kampnagel.de. The organizers expressly warn against third-party platforms with black market prices.

Borough Connection

In the Hamburg-Nord borough, Kampnagel is a central venue – from the Krass Festival in March to the Krimifestival in November, the house hosts various formats throughout the year. The Krimifestival is one of the most popular and internally recognized events of the venue.