Literaturfest München

Munich as a City of Literature

Munich is a UNESCO City of Literature — this distinction was earned by the Bavarian capital with its publishing houses, its literary centers, its rich tradition of translation, and its active literary scene. The annual Literaturfest München is the showcase of this literary metropolis — a curated festival that, unlike most literary festivals, features a central artistic voice as curator, thus developing its own profile each year.

Curator 2026: Dana Grigorcea

For 2026, the Literaturhaus München has chosen the Swiss-Romanian author Dana Grigorcea (born 1979 in Bucharest, lives in Zurich) as curator. She is one of the most important voices in contemporary German-language literature with Eastern European roots, winner of the Swiss Literature Prize, and recipient of the Romanian Order of Cultural Merit. Her novels (“Das primäre Gefühl der Schuldlosigkeit”, “Die nicht sterben”) reflect on dictatorship, migration, history, and the personal.

Motto “FREIHEIT!”

The motto chosen by Dana Grigorcea for her curatorship is “FREIHEIT!” (FREEDOM!) — a deliberately placed imperative with an exclamation mark. The festival explores freedom in several dimensions: political, personal, societal, artistic. “From intimate freedoms to freedom as a human right to artistic freedom,” Grigorcea outlines the thematic spectrum. In times when democratic values are under pressure worldwide, the festival aims to be a plea for the freedom of literature and political discourse.

Readings, Panels, Interactive Formats

Over ten days, the festival presents a dense program of readings, panel discussions, cross-media formats, and interactive events. International authors, experts, artists, and theorists engage in dialogue. The Literaturhaus München on Salvatorplatz is the central venue, with additional locations.

MÜNCHNER SCHIENE

A special feature of the festival is the MÜNCHNER SCHIENE, the festival's independent literary promotion track. Conceived for the fourth time in 2026, this year by the Münchner Volkshochschule (Munich Adult Education Center), it is dedicated to the writing process through workshops, demos, and accessible formats. The Münchnerschiene events are free and aim to open the festival to Munich's urban society.

Münchner Bücherschau Parallel

Running parallel to the Literaturfest is the Münchner Bücherschau at the Haus der Kunst — the major publisher showcase featuring new releases and readings. The two events complement each other: the Literaturfest with its curated, politically engaged profile, and the Bücherschau with its broad public appeal and new publications from publishers.

Funding and Organizers

The festival is organized by the Literaturhaus München, the Münchner Volkshochschule, and the Cultural Department of the City of Munich, supported by the Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts. This organizational structure makes the festival a pillar of the Bavarian cultural landscape.