vielSeitig — European Literature Festival Siegen

vielSeitig — When Literature, Acting, and Music Merge

The vielSeitig — European Literature Festival Siegen takes place every two years — and is one of North Rhine-Westphalia's most distinguished literary festivals. The 2026 edition runs from November 5th to 8th at various venues in Siegen. The main stage is the Kulturhaus Lÿz at St.-Johann-Straße 18, with further events in cafés, pubs, the Princely Crypt in the Lower Castle, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Concept — Literature as a Scenic Reading

vielSeitig focuses not on the classic lectern reading, but on the literary-scenic format: well-known actors and actresses read — and perform — texts, often accompanied by musicians. This transforms each festival evening into its own small theatre-concert experience, appealing even to those who are not traditional reading fans. The festival has thus carved out its own niche among German literary festivals.

Program 2026 by Day

Friday, November 6th — “Quiet – Loud – Forbidden”

Actress Annett Renneberg and actor Florian Lukas read texts by GDR writers — works that were "quietly" whispered, "loudly" discussed, or simply "forbidden" in the GDR. They are accompanied by the renowned jazz drummer Günter „Baby” Sommer. A literary-musical journey through GDR literature, oscillating between resignation and resistance.

Saturday, November 7th — “I Give You My Word of Honour”

The two ARD-famous actors Walter Sittler and Johann von Bülow guide you through a literary-historical show: "I Give You My Word of Honour — A World History of Lies." Political lies, personal lies, great lies of world history — presented with wit and depth. A program item that elicits both laughter and contemplation.

Sunday, November 8th — “It Was Murder”

Actor Roman Knižka and the Ensemble OPUS 45 transform the classic reading format into a true-crime concert evening: "It Was Murder" — historical and literary murder cases, read, set to music, and commented upon. An extraordinary conclusion to the festival.

Organizers — University and Kultur!Büro

Behind the festival are two strong partners: the University of Siegen with its German Studies department and the Kultur!Büro of the Siegen-Wittgenstein district. This collaboration between academia and municipal cultural work gives the festival its special profile — academic level and broad audience go hand in hand. The university provides the technical expertise and its students, the Kultur!Büro the local roots and network in the region.

Siegen — University City in the Siegerland

Siegen is the university city of the Siegerland region in South Westphalia, with around 100,000 inhabitants and a distinct cultural scene centered around the university. The city is famous as the birthplace of the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens — a Museum of Contemporary Art and the Lower Castle (with the Princely Crypt) tell his story. The literature festival takes place against this cultural backdrop — and makes Siegen a literary meeting point from Cologne to Frankfurt every two years.