Heike Geißler Receives the 2026 Literary Prize of the State of Saxony

The 2026 Literary Prize of the State of Saxony has been awarded to Suhrkamp author Heike Geißler.

Oliver Zille, chair of the jury that awarded the prize, had the following to say about Geißler: »No matter what or who she takes on, she’s always fighting. Whether in her essays (Verzweiflungen 2025, Arbeiten 2025, Liegen 2022, Saisonarbeit 2014) or her novels – from her debut Rosa, published in 2002, to the protest novel Die Woche from 2022 and her recently published novel Michaela Kohlhaas – she never makes things easy for herself or for her readers; she is forever wrestling, reflecting, interrogating. Heike Geißler is an author who resolutely seeks to unpack the present and prevailing social relations; yet her texts are never obsessive in their approach, getting bogged down in their topic, but rather inquisitive, sometimes tender, and often gently gripped by despair. Her analysis of the present is multifaceted, manifesting itself both in the personal tone of her essays and in the exuberant, fairy-tale-like, experimental structure of her books. … Heike Geißler views the world through the eyes of a political philosopher. Her texts are insightful, masterful in their use of language and, ultimately, also offer a sense of comfort. The jury awards the 2026 Saxon Literature Prize to an author in recognition of her body of work spanning more than twenty years – years in which Heike Geißler has established herself as one of the most interesting voices in contemporary German-language literature.«

Saxony’s Minister for Culture, Barbara Klepsch, offered her congratulations, saying: “I warmly congratulate Heike Geißler on winning the 2026 Saxon Literature Prize. We are honouring an author who analyses our everyday lives and modern society with great precision. Her writing translates complex observations and social contradictions into a clear and at times humorous literary form. In doing so, she encourages her readers to reflect and invites them to join her in seeking answers to the pressing questions of our time. … She is now one of the most important voices in contemporary German-language literature, whose influence extends far beyond the borders of Saxony.”

The award comes with a cash prize of €10,000 and is funded by the Ministry of Culture of the State of Saxony. The award ceremony will take place on 15 October at the Leipzig City Library.