Darmstadt awards prizes for young lyrical talents
Darmstadt is launching the application phase for the Literary March 2027. The renowned poetry competition is celebrating its 25th edition this year and is aimed at young German-speaking authors.
The Leonce and Lena Prize, endowed with 8,000 euros, and two Wolfgang Weyrauch Advancement Prizes, each worth 4,000 euros, will be awarded again.
Terms and conditions of participation and application
Authors born no earlier than 1991 are eligible to participate. Up to twelve unpublished poems in German may be submitted.
Applications must be submitted digitally via the official form. The deadline for submissions is September 15, 2026.
A prestigious prize for emerging poets
Mayor Hanno Benz emphasizes the importance of the competition: The Literary March is considered one of the most important prizes for emerging poets in the German-speaking world and has been an integral part of Darmstadt's cultural landscape for many years.
The editorial board decides which applicants will be invited to the competition. Selected participants will receive an invitation by the end of 2026.
Readings and award ceremony
The readings and award ceremony will take place on March 6, 2027. The jury will discuss the texts publicly, and the final decision on the prize winners will be made in a subsequent closed session. Admission to the events is free.
Cooperations and anniversary edition
The competition will again be held in 2027 in cooperation with various institutions, including the House of Poetry in Berlin and the Lyrik Kabinett in Munich. The German Literature Fund is a new addition.
The winners will also receive invitations to further readings and to an event at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/jd/stip
