Shortlist-Lesung –
Literaturpreis der deutschen Wirtschaft 2026

The Cultural Circle of German Business invites you once again to a special evening at the Munich Kammerspiele. Three finalists from the longlist of the 2026 German Business Literature Prize will present their works, provide insights into their creative process, and talk about the background to their literary work. Actors from the Munich Kammerspiele ensemble will recite selected passages, combining readings with dramatic performances.

This year’s longlist includes: Luna Ali, Nelio Biedermann, Nina Bußmann, Didi Drobna, Theresia Enzensberger, Marius Goldhorn, Olga Hohmann, Ozan Zakariya Keskinkılıç, Alina Lindermuth, Leif Randt, Theresia Töglhofer, and Janin Wölke. From these twelve literary voices, three finalists will be selected in March to form the 2026 shortlist and present their texts during the reading.

Following the reading, this year’s jury – consisting of Barbara Mundel (artistic director of the Münchner Kammerspiele), Maryam Aras (author and literary critic), Dr. Ronald Düker (literary critic), and members of the Literature Committee of the Cultural Circle of German Business – will select the 2026 prize winner. The result will be announced on the same evening.

With the German Business Literature Prize, the Kulturkreis honors outstanding contemporary literary voices. Among the prize winners whom the Kulturkreis has supported early on are Heinrich Böll, Ingeborg Bachmann, Paul Celan, Günter Grass, Nelly Sachs, Marie Luise Kaschnitz, Elias Canetti, Robert Menasse, Daniel Kehlmann, Clemens J. Setz, and Nino Haratischwili. Most recently, the prize was awarded to Dana Vowinckel, Lukas Rietzschel, and Lena Gorelik.

The prize is endowed with 20,000 euros and highlights the relevance of young contemporary literature.

About the Cultural Committee of German Business
The Cultural Committee of German Business was founded in 1951 and is the most traditional institution for corporate cultural promotion in Germany. As an independent network of committed companies, it promotes artistic freedom as a central pillar of democracy. For over 70 years, its work has focused on promoting young talent in the fields of architecture, visual arts, literature, and music.

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Johanna Lohr

c

Johanna Lohr

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