Literaturfest Meissen

For one weekend in June the old town of Meissen turns into a stage: at the Literaturfest Meißen, Germany’s largest free-admission literature festival, around 260 readings invite you to listen on historic squares, in lanes and in courtyards. Readings take place on five open-air stages and at almost 50 further venues, organised by Meißener Kulturverein e.V.

The programme is deliberately broad: well-known names of contemporary German literature next to regional authors, crime next to poetry, political conversation next to readings for children. In 2026 the bills included Lukas Rietzschel, Martina Hefter, Anja Kampmann, Jens Sparschuh, Kerstin Hensel and Frank Goldammer.

Because everything is free and open, the festival works like a walk through town: you wander through Meissen, stop where you like what you hear, and move on. Between the readings there are wine taverns, the porcelain manufactory and the climb up to Albrechtsburg castle.

Good to know

• From Radebeul the S1 reaches Meissen in 11 to 18 minutes — easier than hunting for parking in the old town.
• Popular authors fill up early. Being there ten minutes ahead pays off.
• The venues are close together, but this is a town of cobbles and slopes.
• Part of the programme is indoors, for instance in the council chamber — so the festival works in the rain too.

Dates and programme: meissener-kulturverein.de.