Book Prizes

The literary landscapes of Germany, Austria and Switzerland are home to numerous prizes. Here, we summarise some of the key awards and signpost to where you can find out more information. This list is not exhaustive, but rather offers a small selection of the many prizes and awards offered within German-language literature across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The German Book Prize

Launched in 2005, the German Book Prize is the equivalent of the Man Booker Prize, seeking the best novel written in German in each publishing year. It is awarded at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.

New Books in German is the prize’s English-language media partner; we announce both the long- and shortlist for the prize on our news page.

The Swiss Book Prize

The Swiss Book Prize is awarded every November to an author writing in German who has been living in Switzerland for at least two years.

Founded in 2008, the prize is coordinated by the Basel Literature Association and the Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association and is funded by private sponsors. The winner receives CHF 30,000 (c. £20,000) and the four shortlisted authors each receive CHF 2,500.

The Austrian Book Prize

The aim of the annual Austrian Book Prize is to honour the quality and originality of Austrian literature and to give it the attention it deserves throughout the German-speaking world.


Other German Prizes

Other Austrian Prizes

Other Swiss Prizes

Prizes for all German Language Literature


‘It’s totally fine to be pop.’ An interview with author Leif Randt

Leif Randt, born in Frankfurt am Main in 1983, is a freelance writer who divides his time between Berlin and Maintal, near Frankfurt. He has written four prize winning novels. His latest, Allegro Pastel, tells the story of two freelance creatives in their thirties, Jerome Daimler and Tanja Arnheim. It was selected by Ijoma Mangold for the Mörike Prize of the City of Fellbach. It was also shortlisted for the German Book Prize and the Leipzig Book Fair Prize. The film of the book is shortly to be released. He found time between working on the film and on his next novel to talk to New Books in German.

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