1. Saarburg Literary Festival

Premiere for Saarburg as a Literary Location

With the 1st Saarburg Literary Festival, a new format dedicated exclusively to literature will be created in 2026 in the western Mosel-Saar region. The organizer is the Kulturgießerei Saarburg, which has become a highly regarded venue for art, music, and literary programs in the Trier-Saarburg district since its opening in the premises of the former Mabilon bell foundry. The premiere edition on August 2, 2026, is intended as the start of a planned annual series.

Three Stages, an Industrial Monument

The industrial architecture of the foundry will be divided into three reading stages for the festival. This allows for parallel readings, discussion rounds, and book presentations without the audience having to change locations. The striking brick halls, the high incidence of light, and the industrial historical background create an atmosphere that clearly stands out from classical reading rooms. A cocktail bar and stalls with regional cuisine complete the day's program.

Authors of the Premiere

The 2026 program includes, among others, bestselling author Birgit Herold, romance novel specialist Annie Stone, Mosel crime fiction author Ansgar Sittmann with "Mordsache Mosel," and Werner Giesser. Thus, the festival covers a broad spectrum from suspense and entertainment literature to the regional book scene. Accompanying this, a literary exchange invites publishers, bookstores, and self-publishers to present their new releases — a showcase for the literary landscape on the Mosel and Saar.

Saarburg as a Backdrop

Saarburg, picturesquely located on the Saar River and known for its waterfall in the middle of the old town, is further positioning itself as a cultural center of the Saar-Obermosel region with this festival. The festival complements the traditional Saar Wine Festival and the Christmas Market with a distinct literary profile and is aimed at readers from the entire greater Trier, Luxembourg, and Saarland area.