Cultural highlight in Dessau-Roßlau: State Literature Days 2026 start!

Cultural highlight in Dessau-Roßlau: State Literature Days 2026 start!

The anticipation for the State Literature Days 2026 is palpable! The literary festival will take place in Dessau-Roßlau from May 7th to 23rd, 2026. Under the motto “… find the city!” A comprehensive program is to be brought to life that puts literature at the center. Minister of State Rainer Robra recently handed over a grant of 40,000 euros to Mayor Dr. Robert Reck in the city library, which further advances the preparations.

A total of over 80 authors applied to take part in this reading festival. A jury consisting of writers and city representatives will decide by the end of September who will be invited. Readings will take place in a wide range of events in libraries, kindergartens, schools and senior citizens' facilities, which offers the organizers - the city's Office for Culture and the city library - a good platform for exchange with readers.

For young and old

The State Literature Days promise to be a celebration for all generations. Book presentations and discussions are planned that not only encourage encounters, but also initiate an exciting discussion about current and future urban literary culture. In addition, “Long Nights” are organized in different genres such as crime fiction and poetry, which ensures literary thrills.

The event has its roots in the history of the Saxony-Anhalt State Literature Festival, which was launched in 1992, and will not forget its origins in Dessau. Saxony-Anhalt can look back on a rich literary heritage, shaped by more than 200 active writers. It is therefore not surprising that the country's literary scene encompasses numerous genres and narrative forms. Every autumn there are also events that present contemporary literary events and the country's cultural heritage.

A feast for the senses

For the team behind the State Literature Days it is clear: this event should offer much more than just readings. Morning and evening events are also planned during the festival to round off the literary experience. A varied program is expected as early as December 2025, when the exact details are to be presented.

The overarching goal of the State Literature Days is to make contemporary literature accessible to a broad public and to promote conversations about important topics such as urban visions of the future. “Literature has the power to create connections and initiate dialogue about our society,” is one of the organizers’ central statements.

So we can look forward to the artistic and literary highlights that await us in Dessau-Roßlau in May 2026. Preparations are in full swing and the city is ready to celebrate literature!

For further information on the topic, please visit the website Magdeburg clicks, Central German newspaper or Literature Saxony-Anhalt.