EUNIC Berlin Members Participate in the Leipzig Book Fair 2026
European cultural institutes and embassies present literary programmes at Leipzig Book Fair
March 12th, 2026
From 19 to 22 March 2026, members of EUNIC Berlin will take part in the Leipzig Book Fair, the most significant spring gathering of the publishing and media sector. The event brings together readers, authors, publishers and media representatives from Germany and around the world, with EUNIC member institutions contributing a wide range of literary programmes, presentations and cultural events.
The Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg will once again participate with the national collective stand “Books from Luxembourg”, organised by the Arts Council Luxembourg Kultur|lx in Hall 4 (D400). Eight publishing houses—Hydre Éditions, Point Nemo Publishing, capybarabooks, Éditions Guy Binsfeld, Kremart Edition, Black Fountain Press, zoom éditions and Ernster Editions—will present their work. Ahead of the fair, the Embassy will host a literary soirée in Berlin on 18 March, featuring author Elise Schmit and her book Allgemeine Zweifel am weiteren Verlauf, moderated by Thorsten Dönges of the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin. During the fair’s “Leipzig Liest!” programme, a further reading and discussion titled “Zwischen Daten, Zweifeln und Dasein” will bring together Luxembourg authors Elise Schmit, Nora Wagener and Chris Lauer.
The Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin, together with the Embassy of Japan and the Japanese Cultural Institute Cologne, will present a Gagaku concert on 20 March during the Manga-Comic-Con at the fair. The internationally recognised composer Tarō Ishida, known for arranging music for the television series Shōgun (2024), will introduce the traditional Japanese court music alongside the Cologne Gagaku Ensemble through a talk and live demonstration. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will also take part with five authors—Tommy Wieringa, Christien Brinkgreve, Geertjan de Vugt, Gerda Blees and Annet Schaap—who will present their work at the fair and during the “Leipzig liest” programme. In addition, the Embassy will host a networking reception together with the Dutch Foundation for Literature in Amsterdam and organise a literary discussion in the Literaturcafé at Leipzig’s Haus des Buches.
The Polish Institute – Leipzig Branch will present numerous events featuring Polish literature in German translation while also fostering literary dialogue within the Weimar Triangle through exchanges between German, French and Polish authors. The programme includes readings, discussions on European themes such as freedom, a crime fiction evening with Maciej Siembieda, and the 32nd Leipzig Europe Forum addressing women’s rights in the European Union. Further literary presentations will feature works by Marta Dzido, Julia Fiedorczuk and Dorota Masłowska. At the same time, the Swedish Embassy and the Finnish Institute, together with other Nordic embassies, will organise the Nordic Forum with more than 30 author presentations and a Nordic Reading Night featuring writers from across the region.
Additional programmes will be presented by several cultural institutions. The Italian Cultural Institute in Berlin will host a stand in Hall 4 (C401) and organise multiple book presentations and discussions, including events on the Renaissance work Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a discussion with author Dario Ferrari, and a literary presentation of the novel Wenn alles brennt. A Comic Night will highlight graphic novels by Bea Davies and Roberto Grossi addressing themes related to climate change. Meanwhile, Hungarian author András Visky will present his acclaimed novel Die Aussiedlung, which recounts the story of a family exiled to the Danube Delta during the communist era in Romania, through several readings and discussions at the fair.
Through these diverse literary programmes and cultural initiatives, the participation of EUNIC Berlin members at the Leipzig Book Fair underscores the shared commitment of European cultural institutions to promoting literature, dialogue and international exchange, highlighting the important role of literature and publishing in advancing cultural diplomacy.
