Elias Hirschl Wins Düsseldorf Literature Prize 2026

Elias Hirschl has been awarded the Düsseldorf Literature Prize 2026, endowed with €20,000, for his complete literary works. The prize is granted by the Kunst- und Kulturstiftung der Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf. Hirschl, born in 1994 in Vienna, is an author, musician, slam poet, and writes for theater and radio. His recent novels include "Salonfähig" (2021), "Content" (2024), and "Schleifen" (2026), all published by Zsolnay. The jury, led by Emily Grunert, praised "Schleifen" as an over-the-top and original novel about a fanatical linguist and a sect-like language guerrilla group, highlighting its linguistic playfulness and narrative tricks. The award ceremony will take place on October 14, 2026, at the Forum der Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf. Previous winners include Christoph Peters, Ursula Krechel, Marion Poschmann, Norbert Gstrein, and Emine Sevgi Özdamar. Hirschl previously received the Reinhard-Priessnitz-Preis in 2020 and the Publikumspreis at the Bachmannwettbewerb in 2022.