Lübeck Thomas Mann Days
Literature and Science Conference in the Hanseatic City
About Thomas Mann Days
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Lübeck and Thomas Mann
Lübeck is the literary home of the Mann family. Thomas Mann was born here in 1875, and "Buddenbrooks. Decline of a Family", the work with which the later Nobel laureate achieved international fame in 1929, is set here. The German Thomas Mann Society holds its main conference annually in the Hanseatic city – the Lübeck Thomas Mann Days. In 2026, they will focus on the 125th anniversary of the first publication of Buddenbrooks and thus on the Lübeck roots of the entire Mann universe.
The Theme for 2026
Under the motto "Economy of Decline. Bourgeois Ethos and Capital in Buddenbrooks", the lectures explore how the novel artistically processes the Hanseatic merchant culture of the 19th century. The focus is on the economic foundations of the Buddenbrook family, the tension between bourgeois discipline and capitalist acceleration, and the question of the decline of traditional economic forms – themes that drive the novel's plot but remain relevant today.
The 2026 Thomas Mann Prize
The highlight of the opening is the presentation of the renowned Thomas Mann Prize to the Israeli writer David Grossman. Grossman, a multi-award-winning author and undisputed moral voice of Israeli literature, receives the prize in a festive ceremony at the Theater Lübeck. The Hanseatic city of Lübeck and the Senate of Hamburg jointly award the prize.
Format of the Conference
The opening at the Theater Lübeck is followed by two days of conference at the Media Docks on Willy-Brandt-Allee. You will experience academic lectures, moderated debates, and the popular format "Thomas Mann Controversial". In 2026, this discussion round will address the Hanseatic bourgeois ethos – with business journalist Anja Kohl, author Yannic Han Biao Federer, and historian Hedwig Richter as voices.
Who Should Attend?
The Thomas Mann Days are aimed at literature enthusiasts and Mann readers, academics, booksellers, and teachers, as well as anyone interested in Hanseatic history and the Lübeck bourgeois culture of the 19th century. Lübeck, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein and the district of Lübeck (independent city), positions itself with this event as a literary center of international standing.
Thomas Mann Days — edition 2026
Conference Program
The opening on Friday evening features the festive presentation of the Thomas Mann Prize to the Israeli writer David Grossman in the Great Hall of the Theater Lübeck. The following two days at the Media Docks will feature academic lectures, discussions, and the "Thomas Mann Controversial" discussion format.
Confirmed Contributions
- Presentation of the Thomas Mann Prize to David Grossman
- Lecture "Buddenbrooks and the Economy of Hanseatic Bourgeois Society"
- Discussion Panel "Thomas Mann Controversial" with Anja Kohl (Business Journalist), Yannic Han Biao Federer (Author), and Hedwig Richter (Historian)
- Readings and Workshop Discussions
- City Tour "In the Footsteps of the Buddenbrooks"
Registration
Registration deadline: August 30th, 2026, at thomas-mann-gesellschaft.de. Non-members pay €65 for the entire conference, €30 for a day ticket.
Programme Thomas Mann Days 2026
Full program for the 2026 conference:
Friday, September 25th, 2026
- 7:30 PM — Opening at the Theater Lübeck (Beckergrube 16) with the festive presentation of the Thomas Mann Prize to David Grossman. Laudation and musical accompaniment.
Saturday, September 26th, 2026 — Media Docks (Willy-Brandt-Allee 31a)
- 10:00 AM — Welcome by the German Thomas Mann Society
- 10:30 AM — Opening lecture on the conference theme "Economy of Decline"
- 2:00 PM — Academic lectures on bourgeois ethos in Buddenbrooks
- 8:00 PM — Evening event with readings
Sunday, September 27th, 2026 — Media Docks
- 10:00 AM — Lectures on criticism of capitalism in the novel
- 2:00 PM — Discussion Panel "Thomas Mann Controversial" with Anja Kohl, Yannic Han Biao Federer, and Hedwig Richter
- 4:30 PM — Closing discussion and outlook for 2027
Program details and registration at thomas-mann-gesellschaft.de.
Highlights Thomas Mann Days 2026
- 125th Anniversary of "Buddenbrooks"
- Thomas Mann Prize for David Grossman
- "Thomas Mann Controversial" with Anja Kohl, Yannic Han Biao Federer, and Hedwig Richter
- Conference venue Media Docks at Lübeck's Holstenhafen harbor
Prices Thomas Mann Days 2026
Full conference (all three days): €65 for non-members, reduced for members. Day ticket: €30. Registration by August 30th, 2026, via the German Thomas Mann Society website.
Practical information — Thomas Mann Days
Getting There
Lübeck Central Station is a 10-minute walk from the Theater Lübeck (Beckergrube 16). The Media Docks (Willy-Brandt-Allee 31a) can be reached via bus line 30. Direct connections from Hamburg in 45 minutes.
Registration and Tickets
Registration required by August 30th, 2026, at the latest via thomas-mann-gesellschaft.de. Full conference €65 for non-members, day tickets €30. Members of the Society benefit from reduced prices.
Accommodation
Lübeck's Old Town offers numerous hotels – book early.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Thomas Mann Days
Theater Lübeck und Media Docks
Beckergrube 16, 23552 Lübeck