Internationaler Literaturpreis 2026

Shortlist celebration and award ceremony

The shortlist for the 2026 edition of the Internationaler Literaturpreis – Prize for Contemporary Literatures in Translation has been finalized. 
To the shortlist

The International Prize for Literature (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 International Prize for Literature 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 International Literature Prize is endowed with 35,000 euros (20,000 euros for the author, 15,000 euros for the translator).

Until 20 January 2026, publishers of international literature in German translation could nominate up to three titles. An independent jury first nominated a shortlist from all submissions and then select the prizewinners in a second step.

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, Safae el Khannoussi, Stella Gaitano, V. V. Ganeshananthan, Bahram Moradi, Stefanie Ochel, Sarah Rauchfuß, Timea Tankó, András Visky, Tina Wünschmann, Sophie Zeitz

Next date:

• Date Friday, 03/July/2026 18:00 bis 23:00
• Venue Haus der Kulturen der Welt
• Address John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 Berlin-Tiergarten