with Cornelia Funke, Özge Samancı, Erin Entrada Kelly and Sydney Smith
f.l.t.r.: Cornelia Funke © Emanuele Camerini, Özge Samancı © Annette Hornischer, Erin Entrada Kelly © Laurence Kesterton, Sydney Smith © Steve Farmer
The Young Program of the 26th International Literature Festival Berlin invites school classes and families to readings and workshops from 6 to 16 September 2026. At the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, the Theater an der Parkaue, and the Gelbe Villa, as well as in workshops across the city, young readers encounter international authors and illustrators. In 2026, the festival also presents two new formats: «Lesesause» and the participatory project «Jugend kuratiert».
The Young Program opens on 8 September 2026 with a talk by the Turkish-American graphic novelist Özge Samancı, who will then present her graphic novel «Evil Eyes Sea». Further guests of the Young Programme this year include Cornelia Funke, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Sydney Smith, among others.
On Sunday, 6 September, «Lesesause» celebrates its premiere: the family festival at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele brings together readings, a concert, and craft activities. In the «Jugend kuratiert» project, young people themselves take the lead for the first time: nineteen participants aged 14 to 17 from the reading club «Die LesArtigen» are shaping two events of their own within the festival’s supporting program.
«With the ‹Jugend kuratiert› project, we are taking participation a step further; with ‹Lesesause›, we are significantly expanding our family programme. My deepest thanks go to the Young Program team and all our partners for their enthusiasm and support, without which these new developments would not have been possible.»
Lavinia Frey, Festival Director of the International Literature Festival Berlin
Program: literaturfestival.com/aktuelles-junges-programm
Ticketing: literaturfestival.com/en/young-program-visit
Main Partners
The ILB’s main funder is the Hauptstadtkulturfonds. Main Funder Curator in Residence Program is LOTTO-Stiftung Berlin; main sponsor Young Program is Thalia. The ILB is a guest of Haus der Berliner Festspiele and is presented by radio3.
«Lesesause» is presented by International Literature Festival Berlin und Thalia.