Storkower Herbstpoesie

Literature at Storkow Castle

Storkow (Mark) is a small town in the Dahme-Heideseen Nature Park, about 60 km southeast of Berlin. At its centre stands Storkow Castle — one of the oldest defensive structures in the Mark Brandenburg, with origins dating back to the 12th century. Today, the castle is a versatile cultural centre with a nature park information centre, a café, and a dense programme of events.

Since 2016, the castle has dedicated its own festival to the written and spoken word: the Storkower Herbstpoesie. In 2026, the 11th edition will take place in October — spread over several weeks, as in previous years, allowing the programme to breathe rather than being crammed into a single weekend.

Readings, Theatre, Lectures — a Long Festival Instead of a Short Event

The Storkower Herbstpoesie is not a classic mass-audience literature festival, but rather a curated series for literature lovers who appreciate the format of concentrated readings. The programme typically includes:

• Author readings focusing on contemporary German-language literature
• Theatre productions in the historic castle rooms
• Lectures on literary history, regional writing traditions, and current debates
• Musical-literary evenings linking texts with music
• Intimate talks with authors

The individual events take place throughout the festival period — mostly in the evenings, occasionally on Sunday afternoons. The intimate atmosphere of the historic rooms is its special charm: instead of an anonymous festival hall, you experience literature in close proximity to the authors.

Status of Programme Planning 2026

The complete programme for the 11th edition will traditionally be published a few weeks before the festival on the website storkower-herbstpoesie.de. So far, the castle administration has confirmed that the festival will take place in October 2026 and will continue its proven structure. Tickets for individual events are sold through Burg Storkow.

Storkow and its Surroundings as a Festival Backdrop

Visitors to the festival often combine the literary evenings with a day trip to the Dahme-Heideseen Nature Park — hiking around the Storkower See, a visit to the castle museum, or a boat trip on the Dahme round off the weekend.