Women Dominate Selection for Leipzig Book Prize - Leipzig Book Fair 2025 reveals diverse fiction shortlist with Austrian twist
The Leipzig Book Fair Prize has unveiled its fiction shortlist for 2025. Five authors—four women and one Austrian man—are in the running for the €15,000 award. The event is expected to attract around 300,000 visitors from March 19 to 22.
A total of 485 books were submitted by 177 publishers across all prize categories. The fiction shortlist features a mix of established authors and debut novelists. Among the nominees are Helene Bukowski, Anja Kampmann, Katerina Poladjan, and Elli Unruh, alongside Austrian writer Norbert Gstrein.
The prize extends beyond fiction, also recognizing nonfiction and translations. This year's translated works span various European languages. Each category winner receives €15,000, while nominees get €1,000 from the €60,000 total prize pool.
The Leipzig Book Fair Prize showcases both new and established literary voices. The winners will be announced during the fair, which continues until March 22. The event remains a significant meeting point for publishers, authors, and readers across Europe.
