German Non-Fiction Book Prize

The German Non-Fiction Prize annually honors the outstanding German-language non-fiction book that addresses socially relevant issues and thus serves as an impetus for knowledge transfer, well-founded opinion formation, and intensive public discourse. Initiated by the Book Culture and Reading Promotion Foundation of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, the award draws nationwide attention to the quality and relevance of current non-fiction projects. Publishers and authors have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the cultural and scientific debate with their publications. Since the launch of the call for submissions, the prize has established itself as a renowned platform for promoting science communication and culturally related content.

Submissions open on September 22, 2025 and are open to all German-language publishers presenting a non-fiction book on socially relevant topics. An independent jury of experts will nominate their favorites in January 2026, before the shortlist is announced in April. The formal award ceremony will take place on June 8, 2026, following the presentation of the jury members on January 13, 2026 and the announcement of the nominees on April 21, 2026. This clearly structured timeline ensures transparency and traceability. The prize specifically targets publishers and authors who aim to initiate substantive discourse with their publications and set sustainable impulses for Germany’s cultural landscape.