StadtLesen Fürth

Reading Under the Open Sky

StadtLesen is one of the most unusual festivals in Germany: for four days, around 3,000 books are available in the middle of the city for browsing and reading – on specially designed reading furniture that resembles oversized library shelves under the open sky. Hammocks, beanbags, reading cubes, and mobile reading benches invite visitors to linger. Free admission, no obligation to purchase.

Program Structure Over Four Days

The festival is not just about silent reading – each day's theme brings its own flavor:

• Thursday: Kick-off with an opening reading and general reading from 9 AM until dusk.
• Friday: Integration Reading Day, where people from different countries of origin present texts in their native languages – a contribution to the cultural diversity of the city of Fürth.
• Saturday: Grand Reading Day focusing on contemporary literature.
• Sunday: Family Reading Day with children's literature and story hours in the Reading Living Room.

Location and the City of Fürth

The Konrad-Adenauer-Anlage is centrally located in Fürth, not far from the city center and the main post office. Fürth (around 130,000 inhabitants) is part of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region in Middle Franconia, Bavaria. The city has been a committed host for the festival for years, positioning itself as a literature-friendly book city.

Partners and Concept

StadtLesen is conceived by Tatjana Lackner and her team from Salzburg and tours a good dozen German-speaking cities annually. Partners in Fürth include the City of Fürth, the Austrian Bibliotel Network, and Markant.