Festival Neue Literatur is an annual literary event in New York City that brings together acclaimed German-language and U.S. authors for a dynamic intercultural conversation. The 15th annual festival, which takes place on October 21-22, 2025, is themed “Strangers at Home”. This theme, curated by writer and translator Tess Lewis, explores questions of trust, suspicion, intimacy, and estrangement as they are reflected in how we see ourselves and others in both public and private life.

The festival pairs visiting authors with U.S. authors to foster a conversation between diverse perspectives and sensibilities. This year's featured writers include Franz Friedrich, Alois Hotschnig, Katie Kitamura, Ariane Koch, Khuê Pham, and Monique Truong, all of whom will participate in readings and panels. While the German-language authors are well-known in Europe, their work is relatively undiscovered in the U.S.. All events are free and conducted in English.

A significant part of the festival is the posthumous presentation of the Friedrich Ulfers Prize to translator and author Tim Mohr. The prize, awarded by Deutsches Haus at NYU, honors individuals who have advanced German-language literature in the U.S.. The ceremony, which includes a laudation by Michael Reynolds and remarks by Erin Clarke on behalf of her late husband, will take place at the Austrian Cultural Forum on October 22.

The Festival Neue Literatur is a collaborative project supported by several New York-based German-language cultural institutions, including the Austrian Cultural Forum New York, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Consulate General of Switzerland, Deutsches Haus at NYU, and Goethe-Institut New York.

Date and Time: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, and Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Location: On October 21, the event “Recognizing the Stranger” will be held at the Goethe-Institut New York at 30 Irving Place, Manhattan.
On October 22, the event “Strangers at Home” will be held at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York at 11 East 52nd Street, Manhattan

More Information: https://festivalneueliteratur.org/