Daniela Danz Receives Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Literature Prize 2026

The jury justified its decision, among other things, with Danz's writing on the search for freedom, the ambivalences of nature, and European crisis areas. This places the Thuringian in a line of distinguished authors who have received the prize since it was first awarded.

The Prize and Its Tradition

The CDU-affiliated Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has awarded the literature prize since 1993. Previous laureates include Herta Müller, Daniel Kehlmann, Wulf Kirsten, and Uwe Tellkamp. The award is accompanied by prize money of 20,000 euros.

The author, rooted in Thuringia, is the 2026 laureate. The award ceremony on Sunday in Weimar underscored the foundation's bond with the cultural memory of the state in which German literary history was once written.

By honoring Danz's work, the foundation, in its own understanding, combines recognition of an independent literary voice with advocacy for the freedom of the word. The jury emphasized that Danz opens up spaces in her texts in which experiences of nature, historical memory, and political vigilance intertwine.

Jury's Reasoning

The award came at a time when debates over the conditions of artistic creation and the scope of democratic fundamental rights are being persistently conducted. Danz herself linked her remarks to this discussion and gave expression to her personal experience as an author in two German states.

With this year's decision, the foundation continues its tradition, spanning more than three decades, of annually honoring an outstanding literary position in the German-speaking world. An independent jury decides on the award.

Laureate's Outlook

In Weimar, the laureate thanked those responsible at the foundation as well as everyone who had accompanied her on her literary path. She announced that she would use the prize money for upcoming writing projects.