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Croatian literature will be featured at the 2026 Leipzig Book Fair, one of Europe’s most important spring literary events and one of Germany’s leading book fairs, taking place from 19 to 22 March 2026. Several Croatian authors will participate in a rich and diverse program organized by the Ministry of Culture and Media in cooperation with the literary network Traduki and the Goethe-Institut.

The Leipzig Book Fair is a favorite meeting place for readers, known for the special attention it gives to authors, literary works, and literary programming, with more than two thousand events held each year. In addition, the fair continues to attract a growing number of visitors, both at the fairgrounds and across the city through the many literary events presented as part of the Leipzig liest (Leipzig Reads) program.

Although there is no official Guest of Honour country this year, the central theme of the fair is the Danube, described as a river of “strong currents that connects worlds,” which is why a number of Croatian authors have been included in the program.
 

At a panel on translating literature into German, Jasen Boko and Želimir Periš will appear alongside Marie Alpermann, a translator who has translated several works by Croatian authors into German. Slobodan Šnajder will present the German edition of his book Anđeo nestajanja (The Angel of Disappearance), published by the distinguished Austrian publishing house Zsolnay Verlag, through a series of events, panel discussions, conversations, and television interviews.

Marko Gregur will present the German translation of his novel Vošicki (Vošicki), published by Wieser Verlag, while Marina Vujčić will speak with German readers about the important themes of her novel Sigurna kuća (Safe House), published in German by Residenz Verlag.

Ena Katarina Haler will present the German edition of her novel Nevini (The Innocents), published by Folio Verlag, and will also appear in the renowned television program dedicated to literature, Das Blaue Sofa (The Blue Sofa), as part of the fair’s program.

Kristian Novak will take part in a panel devoted to dialect literature and will also present his work at Balkan Nacht – Literatur & Musik / Balkan Night – Literature & Music, held at Union-Theater Connewitz, the oldest surviving cinema in Germany, along with the Croatian musician Sara Renar.

As part of the fair’s programme, on 18 March 2026 Miljenko Jergović will receive the Leipzig Book Fair Prize for European Understanding for the German edition of his book Trojica za Kartal (Three Men for Kartal), published by Suhrkamp.

In this context, it is also worth highlighting that Lora Tomaš has been shortlisted for the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) with her novel Papir tvoje kože (The Paper of Your Skin). Tomaš is also this year’s recipient of the Fric Award for the best work of fiction for the same novel.