Book Prize opening speeches Jury respect and openness

Oct 5

Jo Schück opens the 2026 German Book Prize ceremony by presenting literature as a way to understand people, tolerate ambiguity and enjoy language, while saying it cannot save the world. Ina Hartwig welcomes the audience to the Frankfurt Römer and congratulates the six shortlisted authors. She argues that jury decisions should be respected despite debate and praises the younger generation's treatment of German history and Jewish identities. She previews the next day's Book Fair and Open Books festival, thanks Jürgen Boos at what she calls his final fair as director after 21 years, and invokes Czechia's guest-country presentation to argue for cultural exchange across borders and against nationalist exclusion. She closes by welcoming Sebastian Guggolz to his association chairmanship.

Opening the October 5 German Book Prize ceremony in Frankfurt's Römer, host Jo Schück argues that literature helps people understand the world and resist demands for fixed allegiances and absolute certainty, including those he attributes to technology companies and extremist parties. He says it cultivates tolerance of ambiguity while also allowing enjoyment of the nominees' work; he does not claim that literature can save the world.