Kampen Literary and Cultural Summer

Sylt as a Stage for Literature

For nearly three decades, the Kampen Tourist Service has been inviting female and male authors and public figures to the Kaamp-Hüs on the island of Sylt — the former home of the Kampen mayor, now a central cultural venue. For years, the selection of guests has focused on a mix of literarily recognized voices and personalities of political, scientific, or societal weight — not a classic book fair format, but discussions and readings for a discerning audience.

Top-Class Guests 2026

The lineup for the 27th edition reads like a cross-section of Germany's intellectual elite:

• Daniel Speck (May 7, 2026) — Novelist (Bella Germania, Pictures from Italy)
• Milka Loff Fernandes (May 27, 2026) — Presenter and author (Agent of Joy)
• David M. Beasley (June 23, 2026, free) — Former Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2020
• Giulia Enders (July 2, 2026) — Physician and author (Darm mit Charme, Organisch)
• Joschka Fischer (July 8, 2026) — Former German Foreign Minister
• Bettina Tietjen (August 27, 2026) — NDR presenter (Camper travelogues)
• Further guests: Photographer Markus C. Hurek, journalists Katja Gloger and Georg Mascolo, physician Prof. Dr. Dietrich Grönemeyer

Kampen — One of Sylt's Most Famous Villages

Kampen is located in the northwest of the island of Sylt in the district of Nordfriesland, state of Schleswig-Holstein. Known for the Red Cliffs, the Whisky Mile, and its sophisticated atmosphere, Kampen was long a meeting place for the German cultural and economic elite. The Literary Summer builds on this tradition while simultaneously positioning itself as a program that can also appeal to regular Sylt vacationers at affordable prices (€21 in advance).

Diversity Instead of Niche

The programmatic range is broad: novel literature (Speck, Paluch), popular science non-fiction (Enders, Grönemeyer), political memoirs (Fischer), humanitarian topics (Beasley), and camper lifestyle (Tietjen). This reflects the Sylt audience — educated, diverse, interested in current affairs. It sends a clear signal for diversity and encounter.