PFAUEN
AWARD CEREMONY: 07.06.2026
The Max Frisch Prize of the City of Zurich honors authors from the German-speaking world and is awarded every four years. In 2026, the prestigious main prize, endowed with 40,000 Swiss francs, will be presented to the renowned Austrian writer Michael Köhlmeier. The jury honors a body of work that explores the profound questions of human existence and democratic society with remarkable diversity and depth.
The main award is complemented by the Max Frisch Grant (Förderpreis), worth 10,000 Swiss francs, which has been awarded to Ozan Zakariya Keskinkılıç. Keskinkılıç is recognized as a significant voice of the younger generation, engaging critically and artistically with social structures. Both authors follow in the tradition of Max Frisch, whose political engagement and uncompromising artistry serve as the benchmark for this distinction.
The formal award ceremony will take place on June 7, 2026, here at our Pfauen stage. Our supporting program also offers you the opportunity to meet both laureates in person during workshop discussions:
Click here for the program at the University of Zurich (June 6, 2026)
Details on the talks at the Literaturhaus Zurich can be found here (June 8, 2026)
