Konstantin Richter Nominated for the German Non-Fiction Prize 2026

Konstantin Richter has been nominated for the 2026 German Non-Fiction Prize for his brilliant account of the rise and fall of Corporate Germany.

The jury explains in its statement: »From the history of a small male elite, Konstantin Richter develops a multifaceted panorama of German power structures. At the centre of his analysis are the key actors and their personal, economic, and political entanglements, which began in the German Empire, condensed in Corporate Germany and continue to have an impact up to the present day. A compelling and illuminating book about the continuity of influence and order in 150 years of German economic history. «

The Foundation for Book Culture and Promotion of Reading of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers and Booksellers Association) awards the German Non-Fiction Prize to an outstanding work of non-fiction written in German that inspires social debate. The criteria include the relevance of the topic, the narrative strength of the text, the manner of presentation in accessible language, and the quality of research.

From eight nominated titles, the jury will select the non-fiction book of the year on 8 June 2026 at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. The German Non-Fiction Prize is endowed with a total of €42,500. The winner will receive €25,000, with the other seven nominees all receiving €2,500 each.