Name: Poesiefestival Berlin 2026
Start: 2026-05-15T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-14T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Haus für Poesie (Kulturbrauerei) / silent green Wedding / 12 dezentrale Spielorte

Poesiefestival Berlin

About Poesiefestival Berlin

The Poesiefestival Berlin is the largest German-language poetry festival – a month-long event featuring over fifty poets from around the world, held at twelve venues spread across Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte, Wedding, and Neukölln. In 2026, the festival will begin on May 15th with a decentralized phase, culminating in a concentrated performance period at silent green starting June 2nd. The Haus für Poesie in the Kulturbrauerei serves as the host. Headliner for 2026: Anne Carson, reading in Berlin for the first time in nearly two decades.

Dates 15 May — 14 Jun 2026

Venue Berlin (11000)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Poesiefestival Berlin — edition 2026

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The Poesiefestival Berlin 2026 runs in two phases: May 15–31 decentralized at twelve venues between Mitte, Wedding, Prenzlauer Berg, and Neukölln; June 2–14 concentrated at silent green Wedding. Headliner: Anne Carson on May 24th at the Akademie der Künste am Hanseatenweg. Berlin Poetry Lecture by Valzhyna Mort. Weltklang Night with seven international poets. Three thematic evenings (June 9–11) on myth, grief, and canon criticism. Free lawn readings on June 6th/7th and 13th at silent green.

The 2026 edition is thematically well-defined: myth as a living narrative form, grief and linguistic rupture, canon criticism – the "subversive rewriting" of a European literary tradition identified as predominantly white and male. Three dedicated thematic evenings from June 9th to 11th at silent green will explore these focal points.

Anne Carson at the Akademie der Künste on May 24th is the event highlight of the festival – Carson hasn't read in Berlin for almost twenty years. Additionally, the Weltklang – Night of Poetry with seven international poets draws the traditionally largest audience. The free lawn readings on June 6th/7th and 13th in front of silent green are designed as participatory formats for a broad audience: over fifty poets read in turn on the lawn, with the audience sitting in the grass.

Highlights Poesiefestival Berlin 2026

Anne Carson reads in Berlin on May 24th for the first time in almost 20 years; Weltklang Night with 7 international poets; Berlin Poetry Lecture by Valzhyna Mort; free lawn readings with 50+ poets; three thematic evenings on myth, grief, canon criticism.

Programme Poesiefestival Berlin 2026

Phase 1 — Decentralized (May 15–31, 2026)

May 15th, 2026 (Festival Opening) — Kick-off at one of the twelve venues (program to be published on hausfuerpoesie.org)
May 24th, 2026 — Anne Carson, Akademie der Künste, Hanseatenweg 10, 10557 Berlin. The Canadian poet's first Berlin reading in almost two decades.
Decentralized events at: daadgalerie, PalaisPopulaire, Museum für Naturkunde, Silent Rixdorf (Neukölln), Kotti-Shop (Kreuzberg) and seven other venues.

Phase 2 — silent green Wedding (June 2–14, 2026)

Weltklang – Night of Poetry — seven international poets on one stage (central concert night of the festival)
Berlin Poetry Lecture by Valzhyna Mort (Belarusian poet)
June 6th/7th and 13th — Free Lawn Readings with over 50 poets on the lawn in front of silent green

Thematic Evenings (June 9–11, 2026)

June 9th — Myth as a living narrative form
June 10th — Grief and linguistic rupture
June 11th — Canon Criticism and subversive rewritings

Full program overview, ticket shop, workshop registrations, and ancillary program continuously on hausfuerpoesie.org.

Prices Poesiefestival Berlin 2026

Ticketed events with early bird discounts (ongoing) and general advance sales starting April 2026. Prices vary per event. Lawn readings on June 6th/7th and 13th, 2026, in front of silent green: free admission. Tickets via hausfuerpoesie.org.

Practical information

Practical information — Poesiefestival Berlin

Getting There

Haus für Poesie (Kulturbrauerei): U-Bahn (subway) line U2 to Eberswalder Straße, then a five-minute walk. silent green (Wedding): U-Bahn line U6 to Seestraße, then a ten-minute walk. Akademie der Künste am Hanseatenweg: S-Bahn (urban rail) lines S5/S7/S9 to Bellevue. The twelve decentralized venues are mostly within easy reach of public transport.

Admission

Most events: paid admission with early bird discounts (ongoing sales) and general advance sales starting April 2026. Lawn readings on June 6th/7th and 13th: free admission. Tickets available through the Haus für Poesie (online shop) and at the box offices of the venues.

Ancillary Program

Workshops, school readings, meetings with translators – the ancillary program will be continuously updated on hausfuerpoesie.org.

The Poetry Festival That Makes Berlin, Berlin

For years, the Haus für Poesie in the Kulturbrauerei at Helmholtzplatz in Prenzlauer Berg has been the organizational and conceptual centre for promoting poetry in Germany. Its poetry festival – held annually since 2000 – is a must-attend event in Berlin for anyone following contemporary poetry. The 2026 edition runs from May 15th to June 14th, with two distinct phases.

Decentralized, Then Concentrated

The first festival phase (May 15–31) is spread across twelve Berlin venues: the daadgalerie, the PalaisPopulaire at Forum Fridericianum, the Museum für Naturkunde on Invalidenstraße, Silent Rixdorf in Neukölln, the Kotti-Shop at Kottbusser Tor – featuring curated readings, performances, and talks in spaces not typically associated with poetry or festivals. The second phase (June 2–14) moves the program to silent green, the former Wedding crematorium, which has been transformed into one of Berlin's most exciting cultural hubs.

Anne Carson, Valzhyna Mort, and Weltklang

The 2026 headliner is Canadian poet Anne Carson, one of the most influential voices in English-language poetry. Carson will perform on May 24th at the Akademie der Künste on Hanseatenweg – her first reading in Berlin in nearly two decades. The "Berlin Poetry Lecture" will be delivered by Belarusian poet Valzhyna Mort. The central concert night, Weltklang – Night of Poetry, brings together seven international poets on one stage. Three thematic evenings (June 9–11) will focus on myth, grief, and canon criticism – "subversive rewritings" of a predominantly white and male European literary tradition.

Free Lawn Readings for Everyone

For those who find theatre stages intimidating, free lawn readings will take place on June 6th/7th and June 13th: over fifty poets will read their work on the lawn in front of silent green, with the audience seated on the grass. This has proven to be a successful format for the Poesiefestival, making poetry accessible and approachable – without barriers or admission fees.