Harbour Front Literaturfestival 2026: Han Kang, Booker Winners, and 70+ Events in Hamburg
The 2026 Harbour Front Literaturfestival in Hamburg will showcase Nobel laureate Han Kang alongside the last three winners of the International Booker Prize. Scheduled from September 19 to October 11, with a pre-opening on September 6, the festival will emphasize themes related to the USA and its future, marking 250 years of American independence and the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The diverse program will delve into contemporary literature, future possibilities, societal transformations, the intersection of music and literature, emerging authors, and literary classics. Notable features include Han Kang's latest work 'Der goldene Faden', dialogues with Charlotte Link and Jürgen Schmidt, and performances by Corinna Harfouch and Betterov. More than 70 events will take place across 20 venues in Hamburg.
Key facts
- Harbour Front Literaturfestival 2026 takes place in Hamburg from September 19 to October 11, with a pre-opening on September 6.
- Han Kang, Nobel Prize winner, will present her new book 'Der goldene Faden' at the festival.
- The last three International Booker Prize winners attend: Yáng Shuāng-zǐ (2026), Banu Mushtaq (2025), and Jenny Erpenbeck (2024).
- Opening events on September 19 include 'Hamburg Liest Amerika' for 250 years of US independence and Olaf Scholz commemorating 2001 attacks.
- The festival features over 70 events at 20 venues in Hamburg.
- The Harbour Front Debütpreis, worth 10,000 euros, will be awarded to one of six shortlisted debut authors.
- Corinna Harfouch performs with her sons' band Die Tentakel von Delphi, combining literature and music.
- Children's program includes Cornelia Funke, Margit Auer, and Bodo Wartke.
Entities
Artists
- Han Kang
- Yáng Shuāng-zǐ
- Banu Mushtaq
- Jenny Erpenbeck
- Ildikó von Kürthy
- Daniel Schreiber
- Charlotte Link
- Jürgen Schmidt
- Dörte Hansen
- Jan Weiler
- Caroline Wahl
- Elias Hirschl
- Elena Fischer
- Şeyda Kurt
- Juli Zeh
- Florence Gaub
- Johann Wadephul
- Kristina Lunz
- Düzen Tekkal
- Manon Garcia
- Corinna Harfouch
- Bertolt Brecht
- Johannes Gwisdek
- Robert Gwisdek
- Betterov (Manuel Bittorf)
- Behzad Karim Khani
- Johanna Sebauer
- Martin Piekar
- Oliwia Hälterlein
- David Vajda
- Katrin Zipse
- Son Lewandowski
- Maja Zade
- Ulrich Tukur
- Mark Twain
- Katharina Thalbach
- Elisabeth Hauptmann
- Bela B Felsenheimer
- Roger Willemsen
- William Shakespeare
- Cornelia Funke
- Margit Auer
- Bodo Wartke
Institutions
- Harbour Front Literaturfestival
- International Booker Prize
- Gutkind Verlag
Locations
- Hamburg
- Germany
- USA