26.10. - 01.11.2026
globale° 2026 – Nation of Strangers
Bremen | Bremerhaven | Delmenhorst
20 years of the globale° Festival for Transnational Literature. A reason to celebrate in these unsettling times. For 20 years, we have sought to provide a platform for authors whose voices and texts enrich, complement, and challenge literature and our way of thinking. A lot has happened over these 20 years: Authors who are at home in multiple languages have become more visible. Texts that transcend geographical borders have secured a permanent place in publishing programs. And yet, we must watch as reality becomes more dangerous for many people, as borders are tightened once again and more sharply defined.
And so many of us are suddenly faced with the question: Where do I belong, and with whom do I actually identify here? We would like to explore these and many other questions this year under the theme “Nation of Strangers.”
To this end, we invite you to participate in 28 public events dedicated to discussion, debate, and exchange. This year’s global° Ukrainian “
” author Iryna Fingerova, who, in her novel *Zugwind*, explores the shifting concepts of homeland, “
” identity, and belonging. During a week filled with readings—in which Matthias Nawrat, Heike Geißler, Aidin Halimi, and Max Czollek, among others, will present their books—we’ll also be experimenting with various formats: In addition to a panel discussion with
centered on the key question Who tells the story of the East? we’re looking forward to a new collaboration with the film series Weird Xperience, through which we’re creating space for the offbeat and the worth discovering. As part of our collaboration with OUT LOUD, this year features a performance by the first literary girl band, No Scribes, and on Friday we’ll kick off the weekend with a mix of punk,
political happenings, and performances by PUSSY RIOT! You’ll find us there again on both days at the Theater Bremen, where a diverse reading program featuring fantastic authors awaits you. To wrap up this year’s program, philosopher Eva von Redecker will present her book This Thirst for Harshness: On the New Fascism It addresses the questions raised at the outset and bases its analysis on contemporary society.
We look forward to welcoming you to this year’s globale°.
Tatjana Vogel, Daniel Schmidt, Libuše Černá, Lore Kleinert, Karen Struve, Elisabeth Arend, Myriam Macé, Klaas Anders, Tobias Pollok, Viktorie Knotková,
Tabea M. Dörfel, and Dariusz Schimankowitz.
On a daily basis
globale° 2026 - Program
Sat, Oct. 31, and Sun, Nov. 1
Focus weekend
Traditionally transform globale° and Theater Bremen jointly transform various theater stages into a cross-border cultural campus.
Readings, productions and discussions are offered at various venues.
Away from the big stages:
DONKA DIMOVA – Apartment Building Without a View
October 28, 10:00 a.m.
Location: Weserburg Museum of Modern Art
Discussion: Myriam Macé
In cooperation with the Weserburg Museum of Modern Art.
Please register by October 7 via email at globale@uni-bremen.de.
JUSTINE SOW – Wax Paradoxes
Nov. 27, open to the public individually or in combination:
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Workshop – Storytelling in Comics
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Lecture – Wax Paradoxes
Location: Weserburg Museum of Modern Art
Talk: Ela Fischer
Both formats are conducted primarily in French.
In cooperation with the Weserburg Museum of Modern Art.
Please register by October 7 via email at globale@uni-bremen.de.
