lit.RUHR — International Literature Festival (Bochum)

One of Germany's most important literature festivals

Since 2017, lit.RUHR has been the central literature festival of the Ruhr Area and has become one of Germany's most significant literary events within a few years. The organizer is litissimo gGmbH, based in Cologne, a non-profit organization for the promotion of literature and philosophy. The festival is designed as a multi-city format, simultaneously taking place in five Ruhr Area cities: Essen, Bochum, Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr. Bochum is one of the traditional main venues.

10th Anniversary Edition from October 7 to 11, 2026

In 2026, lit.RUHR celebrates its 10th edition — an anniversary that the organizer is planning with a special program and prominent international guests. Dates: Wednesday, October 7 to Sunday, October 11, 2026. The festival team announces: "We look forward to celebrating the 10th edition with you." The exact program will be gradually published on lit.ruhr starting in late summer 2026 — author confirmations, reading locations, special events.

Bochum as a Venue

Bochum has been a constant venue for lit.RUHR since the festival's premiere in 2017. Traditional venues in Bochum:

• Schauspielhaus Bochum — one of the most renowned German theaters, providing the perfect setting for major readings and literary discussion formats
• Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr — the concert hall opened in 2016 in Bochum's city center, often used for reading and music crossover formats
• Other Venues: Library, bookstores, cultural centers, museums — depending on the program

lit.kid.RUHR — Program for Children and Young People

Running parallel to the main event since the festival began, lit.kid.RUHR is a separate program strand for schools, children, and young people. The focus is on readings for school classes, encounters with children's and young adult authors, and interactive hands-on formats like #lassmalesen (let's read) and #lassmaschreiben (let's write). It is one of the most important initiatives for promoting reading in North Rhine-Westphalia — and a reason why lit.RUHR receives broad public attention beyond the literary bubble.

Sponsoring Partners and Support Structure

lit.RUHR is an example of well-functioning patronage in the Ruhr Area:

• RAG Stiftung — the foundation of the former Ruhrkohle AG, a central supporter of structural change initiatives
• Brost Stiftung — foundation of the Brost publishing family (WAZ Group)
• Stiftung Mercator — non-profit foundation of the Mercator family
• Sparkasse Essen and Thalia — main commercial sponsors

This support structure allows for programs of international quality at moderate ticket prices, making lit.RUHR an example of sustainable cultural funding in regions undergoing structural change.

Bochum — A City with a Literary Tradition

With around 367,000 inhabitants, Bochum is the second-largest city in the Ruhr Area and, with the Ruhr University Bochum, boasts one of Germany's oldest reform universities. The city has a strong theatrical and literary tradition — the Schauspielhaus Bochum has been one of Germany's most important stages since the Peymann era, and with authors like Jürgen Lodemann, Frank Goosen, and Sasha Marianna Salzmann, Bochum has prominent voices in contemporary literature. lit.RUHR builds on this tradition, integrating the city annually into an international literary showcase for five days.