LESEN! — Literature Festival Fürth

Literature Where It's Read

Since 1996, LESEN! has been the literature festival of the city of Fürth — and is one of the recognised brands of the Bavarian literary scene. Organised by the Cultural Department of the City of Fürth, the festival stands out with a central format: instead of just in official reading rooms, the readings take place in unusual locations in the city centre — in private homes, cellars, churches, cafés, bookshops, workshops.

Concept and Identity

• Readings in unusual locations: The hallmark — literature moves out of the bookshop and city library into the daily life of Fürth.
• Over 100 venues and partners: The festival works with numerous partner institutions in the city — cultural centres, bookshops, schools, associations.
• Poetry Slam and Contemporary Literature: Alongside classic readings, poetry slams are a firm fixture — Fürth, with Bistro Schiller, is one of Bavaria's established poetry slam venues.
• Programme structure: Main programme and 'LESEN! at Partners' — the latter decentralised throughout the city.
• Established Authors and Newcomers: Well-known German-speaking authors and emerging voices — the festival has an extensive history with big names since 1996.

State and Cultural Context

Bavaria, administrative region of Middle Franconia, independent city of Fürth. Directly adjacent to Nuremberg, Fürth has an independent, very vibrant cultural scene — LESEN!, the International Klezmer Festival, the region's Bardentreffen atmosphere, and not least its Jewish heritage (Fürth was once the 'Franconian Jerusalem') make the city one of Bavaria's most densely packed cultural hubs.