Ingolstadt Literature Days

A Literature Festival with Marieluise Fleißer Tradition

The Ingolstadt Literature Days are closely linked to the city's most significant daughter: Marieluise Fleißer (1901–1974), a playwright and narrator, a companion of Bertolt Brecht, and a point of reference for a whole generation of German writers. The literary prize named after her is awarded as part of the Literature Days—the laureates commit to participating in the festival week and holding readings in Ingolstadt schools.

Renowned Voices and Discoveries

The program balances established figures of contemporary German-language literature and international voices with new discoveries. Büchner Prize winners, Marieluise Fleißer Prize winners, established novelists, as well as poets and children's book authors shape the program. The festival sees itself not as a mere showcase for the literary scene, but as a place for genuine literary encounters: small halls, personal discussions, guided readings.

Venues in the Heart of the Upper Bavarian Danube City

The readings are spread across historically significant venues in Ingolstadt's Old Town in the Upper Bavarian district of Ingolstadt (Bavaria): the Georgianum (former university building, now a cultural center) as the main venue, the Altstadttheater, the City Library, and local bookstores and cafés. The short distances between venues make the festival a cohesive, continuous experience rather than a series of isolated events.

Format and Atmosphere

The focus is on the classic author reading: one voice, one text, followed by a discussion. In addition, there are special formats such as the Literary Night, musical readings (e.g., readings with live music of texts by Fleißer and Horváth), and readings for young audiences by children's book authors. The festival deliberately remains manageable—not a mass event, but a curated festival week lasting around ten days.

Significance for the Region

Located in Ingolstadt, the festival lies at the intersection between Munich and Nuremberg, in the economically strong industrial city of Audi AG. The Literature Days are a conscious cultural counterpoint—an annual reminder that Ingolstadt is not only a city of industry but also a city with a literary heritage (Marieluise Fleißer, Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein here).