KiLiFee — Children's Literature Festival 2026

Reading as a Joint Ruhr Area Project

KiLiFee — short for Children's Literature Festival — is a regional festival with a simple yet important idea: Children and young people from the Ruhr area should be able to experience the authors of their favorite books live. Instead of a single central venue, the festival brings together nine libraries and cultural institutions from the southern Ruhr area for a joint series — coordinated by the Witten Library and supported by the Werner Richard – Dr. Carl Dörken Foundation.

Key Program Data 2026

• 18 public readings — spread over seven weeks
• 11 authors from the German children's and young adult book scene
• 9 venues in the Ruhr area and Sauerland
• Around 800 expected visitors over the entire series
• Free participation, prior registration required
• Public readings start daily at 4:00 PM

Who's Coming — The Author Line-up

The 2026 program planning brings an exciting mix of established voices and newcomers:

• Boris Pfeiffer — Opening in February (known for "Die drei !!!" and "Die Schule der magischen Tiere")
• Anne Becker — February 6th
• Stefanie Taschinski — February 11th (Series "Die kleine Dame")
• Tobias Rudolf — February 20th
• Jule Ambach — February 24th
• Heidi Leenen — February 25th
• Dayan Kodua — March 5th
• Jasmin Schaudinn — March 24th
• Günther Jakobs — March 25th (Closing; known for "Pippilothek???" and many other picture books)

The Nine Venues

The festival takes place in:

• Witten Library (Coordination point)
• Sprockhövel
• Dortmund (incl. Literaturhaus Dortmund)
• Schwelm
• Hattingen
• Wetter/Ruhr
• Gevelsberg
• Ennepetal

This geography covers the southern Ruhr area extending into the Sauerland — a deliberate statement against the concentration of cultural events in large cities.

More Than Just Reading Aloud

A KiLiFee event is not a mandatory school activity. The authors read from their books, answer questions, draw with the children, and sign autographs. The atmosphere is familial, with the educational aspect remaining in the background. Anyone who has experienced a child holding a signed book with shining eyes after a reading understands the value of such festivals — and why libraries are more important than ever in the age of TikTok and Netflix.