Invitation: Internationaler Literaturpreis 2026. Celebration of the Shortlist and Award Ceremony
Press release, 23.6.2026
Invitation
Internationaler Literaturpreis 2026: Celebration of the Shortlist and Award Ceremony
Fr., 3. Juli, 18:00–23:00
Internationaler Literaturpreis 2026
Celebration of the Shortlist and Award Ceremony
Readings, discussions
Fri., 3 July, 18:00–23:00
We cordially invite you to the Celebration of the Shortlist and the Award Ceremony of the Internationaler Literaturpreis 2026, taking place on 3 July from 18:00 at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW). For interview requests, please contact presse@hkw.de.
On this evening, the authors, translators, and jury members present the nominated titles in readings and discussions. The winning duo will then be presented with their awards.
With: Larissa Bender, Julia Cimafiejeva, Maha El Hissy, Safae el Khannoussi, Paula Fürstenberg, Stella Gaitano, V. V. Ganeshananthan, Melody Makeda Ledwon, Bahram Moradi, Stefanie Ochel, Sarah Rauchfuß, Cia Rinne, Timea Tankó, Senthuran Varatharajah, András Visky, Tina Wünschmann, Sophie Zeitz
More information: hkw.de/en/literaturpreis
Press photos: hkw.de/pressphotos
Shortlist 2026
Blutkreislauf
Julia Cimafiejeva | translated from Belarusian by Tina Wünschmann
edition.fotoTAPETA, 2025
Oroppa
Safae el Khannoussi | translated from Dutch by Stefanie Ochel
Carl Hanser Verlag, 2026
Eddos goldenes Lächeln
Stella Gaitano | translated from Arabic by Larissa Bender
Verlag Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 2026
Der brennende Garten
V. V. Ganeshananthan | translated from English by Sophie Zeitz
Tropen Verlag, 2025
Das Gewicht der anderen
Bahram Moradi | translated from Farsi by Sarah Rauchfuß
Wallstein Verlag, 2025
Die Aussiedlung
András Visky | translated from Hungarian by Timea Tankó
Suhrkamp Verlag, 2025
Programme
Free entry
Fri., 3.7.
18:00–23:00
Celebration of the Shortlist and Award Ceremony
Opening speech by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung
In English with simultaneous interpretation into German
Moderation by Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako
In German with simultaneous interpretation into English
Musical accompaniment by Saliou Cissokho
18:00–21:30
Readings and discussions
With Safae el Khannoussi and Stefanie Ochel,
moderated by Maha El Hissy
In English and German with simultaneous interpretation into German and English
With Bahram Moradi and Sarah Rauchfuß,
moderated by Maha El Hissy
In German with simultaneous interpretation into English
With Stella Gaitano and Larissa Bender,
moderated by Melody Makeda Ledwon
In Arabic and German with simultaneous interpretation into German, English, and Arabic
With V. V. Ganeshananthan and Sophie Zeitz,
moderated by Paula Fürstenberg
In English and German with simultaneous interpretation into German and English
With András Visky and Timea Tankó,
moderated by Cia Rinne
In Hungarian and German with simultaneous interpretation into German, English, and Hungarian
With Julia Cimafiejeva and Tina Wünschmann,
moderated by Paula Fürstenberg
In English and German with simultaneous interpretation into German and English
21:45–22:15
Award Ceremony
Laudatory speech by Senthuran Varatharajah
In German with simultaneous interpretation into English
22:15–23:00
Closing celebration with music
The Prize
The Internationaler Literaturpreis: Prize for Contemporary Literatures in Translation (ILP) is awarded for the eighteenth time in 2026. It honours an outstanding work of contemporary international literature and its first translation into German. This dual focus makes it unique in the German award landscape.
The Internationaler Literaturpreis concentrates on heterogeneous forms of contemporary narration and focuses on the relationships between texts and realities as well as the dialogue between different cultures and languages. By focusing on translations, it aims to overcome national canonizations and limited understandings of the literary and thus takes into account the current conditions of literary creation in a world shaped by diverse cultural interdependencies.
The list of previous prizewinners is a testament to the richness of contemporary literature worldwide and to the productivity of literary translation in German-speaking countries.
Since 2023, German first translations of international poetry can also be submitted. The Internationaler Literaturpreis is endowed with 35,000 euros (20,000 euros for the author, 15,000 euros for the translator).
From the 130 submissions, the jury selected six books for this year’s shortlist.
The Jury
This year’s jury for the Internationaler Literaturpreis consists of Joy Denalane, Maha El Hissy, Paula Fürstenberg, Hannes Langendörfer, Melody Makeda Ledwon, Cia Rinne, and Senthuran Varatharajah.
Partner
The Internationaler Literaturpreis is awarded by Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) and Stiftung Elementarteilchen (Hamburg).
Contact
Maxie Fischer
Head of Press and Communications
Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW)
John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10
10557 Berlin
T: + 49 (0) 30 397 87 413
presse@hkw.de