Women Dominate Selection for Leipzig Book Prize - Leipzig Book Fair Prize 2025 reveals bold fiction shortlist with Austrian twist
The Leipzig Book Fair Prize has announced its fiction shortlist for 2025. Five authors—four women and one Austrian man—are in contention for the €15,000 award. The event itself will draw 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 blends established names with 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 honouring nonfiction and translations. This year's translated works cover a wide selection of 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 highlights both new and recognised literary voices. The winners will be announced during the fair, which runs until March 22. The event remains a key gathering for publishers, authors, and readers across Europe.
