Treffen junger Autor*innen
Federal Competition for Young Literary Writing
About Treffen junger Autor*innen
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Treffen junger Autor*innen al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Platform for Young Literary Voices
The Treffen junger Autor*innen is one of the oldest nationwide forums for young literary talent in Germany. The competition has been organized by the Berliner Festspiele in the federal capital since 1985 and is aimed at writers between 11 and 21 years old. Each year, around 20 authors are selected from several hundred submissions by a nine-member jury of experienced writers.
Genres and Themes
The competition is deliberately open to all genres: poetry, short prose, novel excerpts, stage plays, slam poetry, hybrid forms, and experimental language projects. The jury evaluates the submitted texts without thematic or formal requirements – the sole criterion is literary quality.
The Meeting in Berlin
At the end of November, the selected prize winners come to the Haus der Berliner Festspiele on Schaperstraße in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district. Over five days, the program includes public readings, workshop discussions with jury members, writing workshops, and discussion rounds. The event traditionally begins with a ceremony honoring the prize winners and a concert.
- Nationwide competition (application deadline usually July 15)
- Age limit: 11–21 years
- ~20 prize winners annually
- 20 additional authors receive a book voucher and a subscription to a literary magazine
- Readings, workshops, and concert at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele
- Funding: Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth
Berliner Festspiele and Treffen junge Szene
The Treffen junger Autor*innen is part of the Treffen junge Szene series, which also includes the Treffen junger Musik-Szene, the Treffen junger Schauspiel-Szene, and the Treffen junges Theater. For decades, these competitions have served as an important springboard for many artists who later become professionals in Germany.
Treffen junger Autor*innen — edition 2026
Opening Ceremony and Concert
The opening of the 41st edition of the Treffen junger Autor*innen will take place on Thursday, November 26, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. The focus will be on the official honoring of the approximately 20 prize winners, followed by a concert.
Readings, Workshops, Discussions
Over the following four days (November 27–30, 2026), the selected young authors will present their texts in public readings. In parallel, writing workshops, "Nahaufnahmen" (close-ups), and forums will take place – moderated and accompanied by experienced writers.
Application and Selection 2026
The application deadline for the 41st edition was July 15, 2026. A nine-member jury selected around 20 prize winners from the submissions; another 20 authors received a book voucher and a one-year subscription to a literary magazine. The prize winners' texts are independent of genre, form, and theme – poetry, prose, drama, slam, and experimental forms are possible.
Programme Treffen junger Autor*innen 2026
Program structure of the 41st edition (as of the 2026 application phase; exact slots will be published in autumn 2026 at berlinerfestspiele.de):
Thursday, November 26, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Opening event with awards ceremony for all prize winners and concert (Haus der Berliner Festspiele)
Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 29, 2026
- Public readings by the approximately 20 prize winners in multiple slots per day
- Workshops led by jury members (poetry, prose, dramatic texts, slam)
- "Nahaufnahmen" – moderated workshop discussions
- Forums and discussions about the texts
Monday, November 30, 2026
- Final readings and farewell
Detailed reading slots, workshop groups, and the 2026 jury composition will be published on the official website.
Highlights Treffen junger Autor*innen 2026
Prices Treffen junger Autor*innen 2026
Practical information — Treffen junger Autor*innen
Getting There
Subway U3/U9 Spichernstraße (200 m), Bus 204, 249. Berlin Hauptbahnhof reachable in 20 minutes via U7+U9.
Application
Application deadline is July 15 of the competition year via the Berliner Festspiele website. Eligible participants: Authors between 11 and 21 years old.
Admission to Readings
Public readings and the opening ceremony are generally free of charge. Registration recommended.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Treffen junger Autor*innen al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Treffen junger Autor*innen
Haus der Berliner Festspiele
Schaperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin