29. Hausacher LeseLenz

29 Years of Literature in the Central Black Forest

Since 1998, the Hausacher LeseLenz has been one of the most important literary festivals in Baden-Württemberg and is among the most distinguished reading festivals in Southern Germany. In 2026, the festival will celebrate its 29th edition from July 9 to 18 — ten days featuring international and German-speaking authors reading at the Stadthalle Hausach (Gustav-Rivinius-Platz 3) and other venues in the Ortenau district. A second festival segment will complement the program from November 6 to 8, 2026.

Guest Language 2026: Spanish and the Languages of Spain

Each edition focuses on a guest language — in 2026, it's Spanish, complemented by the co-official languages of Spain: Catalan, Basque, and Galician. Authors from Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastián, Santiago de Compostela, and other Spanish cities will read from their works, offering a literary exploration of the linguistic diversity of the Iberian Peninsula. Readings are usually held bilingually — in the original language and German translation.

Writer-in-Residence, Poetry Lecturer, and the Hausach Spirit

The festival annually awards writer-in-residence scholarships and a poetry lecturer position — in 2025/26, the guests are Kathrin Tordasi, Daniela Seel, Anna Kim, and Thilo Krapp. This multi-year perspective makes the LeseLenz more than just a festival: it's a literary hub where writers work for extended periods and engage with the local community.

Hausach in the Ortenau District

Hausach is located in the Kinzigtal valley, in the heart of the Central/Northern Black Forest Nature Park — a town of 5,500 inhabitants in the Ortenau district, on the border with the Schwarzwald-Baar district. The Husen Castle ruins above the town, the Black Forest Open-Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof in the neighboring town of Gutach, and the nearby spa towns of Bad Peterstal-Griesbach and Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach make the Kinzigtal one of the most charming regions of the Black Forest. The LeseLenz has transformed the small town of Hausach into a literary magnet — scholarship holders, researchers, and literature fans travel from all over Europe.