Internationales Lyriktreffen Münster 2026

Germany's most important poetry festival

For decades, the Internationales Lyriktreffen Münster has been the most important forum for contemporary poetry in Germany. Every two years — in even-numbered years — Münster transforms into the German center for poetry, translation, and literary encounters. The 2026 edition takes place from July 3rd to 5th, 2026 at the Theater Münster and other venues in the city.

Motto 2026: "Poesie und Sprechblase"

The festival always works with a programmatic motto. In 2026, it is "Poesie und Sprechblase" (Poetry and Speech Bubble) — a reflection on the relationship between poetry and comics, clichés, and the way language is visually represented. Workshops on Comic & Poetry, performances between text and image, a soundwalk through the city, and exhibitions round off the motto.

Artistic Direction 2026

The artistic direction is by Anja Utler, one of the most distinguished contemporary poets in the German-speaking world (multiple award winner, including the Leonce-und-Lena-Preis), and Aurélie Maurin, a translator and mediator between the literary cultures of France and Germany. The moderation will be handled by Claudia Dathe, Christian Filips, Lea Hübner, and Cornelia Jentzsch.

International Poetry Prize Münster 2026

The highlight of the festival days is the awarding of the International Poetry Prize of the City of Münster — one of the most important European poetry awards. The prize winner in 2026 is the Serbian poet Milena Marković, honored together with her German translator duo Wittmann (Elvira Veselinović and Mascha Dabić). The prize comes with a monetary award and typically brings the translator duos to the attention of the German public for the first time.

Venues — Three Central Locations

• Theater Münster (Neubrückenstraße 63) — Main venue for readings and award ceremony
• Erbdrostenhof (Salzstraße 38) — Baroque noble palace, readings and performances
• Studiobühne der Universität Münster (Domplatz 23) — Workshops and experimental program

Pre-Festival Program POETRY starting June 8th, 2026

The festival is not limited to three days. Starting June 8th, 2026, the pre-festival program POETRY will run — readings, workshops, and performances in Münster, serving as a bridge to the main event and preparing the audience for the motto "Poesie und Sprechblase" (Poetry and Speech Bubble).

Münster — University City with a Reading Tradition

Münster is one of Germany's most important university cities, with over 60,000 students out of a population of 320,000. The city has an exceptional literary infrastructure: the Theater Münster, the city library, several independent bookstores, the Westfälische Nachrichten, and the Annette von Droste zu Hülshoff Literature Museum. The Lyriktreffen has been part of this tradition for decades, making Münster an international hub for poetry.