Dear audience,
Summer has arrived, and the 26th International Literature Festival Berlin is drawing ever closer. From 3 to 12 September 2026, over 100 writers from around 40 countries will join the 26th ILB for readings, panels, performances, and workshops.
Ticket sales opened last week, and there are now just under eight weeks left until the festival opens. Time to take a look at the program.
In the coming issues of our newsletter, we will introduce this year’s festival program in more detail.
To kick things off, we present 10 highlights from the literary program, including book premieres and conversations with major voices in contemporary world literature.
10 Literary Highlights at the 26th ILB
in chronological order
Boualem Sansal
One of North Africa’s most important authors makes his first Berlin appearance since his release from prison in Algeria. A small retrospective invites the audience to discover the range of his literary work.
The Art of Writing: Boualem Sansal | Moderator: Tilla Fuchs. Reader: Frank Arnold
03 Sep | 20:30
Vigdis Hjorth
One of the most important voices in contemporary Norwegian literature — known for her extraordinary live appearances and her extensive, unflinchingly honest, psychologically precise, and often autofictional body of work — presents her latest novel.
Vigdis Hjorth: Det gode mennesket i Sandvika | Moderator & Interpreter: Elke Ranzinger. Reader: Meike Rötzer
04 Sep | 18:00
Douglas Stuart
He won the Booker Prize for «Shuggie Bain». At the 26th ILB, he presents his new novel «John of John»: a tenderly told gay love story set against the distinctive backdrop of the Hebrides.
Douglas Stuart: John of John | Moderator: Hadnet Tesfai. Reader: Charly Hübner
04 Sep | 19:30
Dave Eggers
One of the best-known writers in US literature — author of the international bestseller «The Circle» — returns to the literary stage with a major new novel. He celebrates its German premiere at the ILB. He will also appear with a children’s book at the Junior Program’s Lesesause.
Dave Eggers: Contrapposto | Moderator: Anne-Dore Krohn. Reader: Ullrich Matthes
05 Sep | 20:45
Dave Eggers: We Became Jaguars | Moderator: Clarissa Corrêa da Silva. Reader: Jonathan Aikins | Free admission | for children aged 4 and up and their families
06 Sep | 14:00
Han Kang
The author of the international bestseller «The Vegetarian» appears in Berlin for the first time since being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Han Kang can be experienced in the new format «Satzwechsel», with a classical music program by the Berliner Philharmoniker curated to complement her work.
Satzwechsel: Han Kang and the Berliner Philharmoniker: Light and Thread (Tr: Maya West, e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris) | Moderator: Katharina Borchardt. Reader: Martina Gedeck
07 Sep | 20:00
Amitav Ghosh
A rare Berlin appearance by the great Indian author, who is often mentioned as a Nobel Prize candidate. His new novel spans continents and centuries. In it, he uses the tools of magical realism to explore family ties and climate change.
Amitav Ghosh: Ghost-Eye | Moderator: Sumana Roy. Reader: Alina Vimbai Strähler
08 Sep | 18:30
Ben Lerner
One of the most interesting American authors presents his new novel and reads at the Poetry Night. Known for his intelligent, philosophical prose and poetry, and for artistic collaborations with, among others, Alexander Kluge, Thomas Demand, and Gerhard Richter.
Ben Lerner: Transcription | Moderator: Thomas Demand. Reader: N.N.
06 Sep | 19:30
Poetry Night Part II: Poetry in the Spotlight | With: Ben Lerner, Eileen Myles, Dinçer Güçyeter, Halyna Kruk, Petr Hruška. Moderator: Logan February
08 Sep | 20:30
Adania Shibli
One of the most important Palestinian authors presents her long-awaited new novel — a complex engagement with experiences of violence in Palestine — to the public for the first time. The follow-up to «Minor Detail» celebrates its world premiere at the ILB.
Adania Shibli: Täuschung (Tr: Hartmut Fähndrich) | Moderator: Priya Basil. Reader: Martina Hesse
09 Sep | 20:30
Christian Kracht & Katie Kitamura
Two of the most interesting contemporary international authors — from the USA and Switzerland — appear together on stage at the ILB. Each has read the other’s novels, and they will discuss the connections in their writing. The conversation and reading will take place in English without additional moderation.
The Art of Writing: Christian Kracht and Katie Kitamura
10 Sep | 19:30
Curious for more? The full program of the 26th International Literature Festival Berlin, as well as tickets, is available online at literaturfestival.com
We look forward to seeing you!
Your International Literature Festival Berlin Team