Portrait
World stars in a unique natural setting
The Zurich Literature Festival was founded in 2013 and has been held annually for 7 days in July ever since. The festival's gem is its legendary open-air stage amidst the lush nature of the Old Botanical Garden: there is hardly a more magical place to experience literature - both the audience and our performing guests agree on that. But it is not only the enchanting ambience and the artful staging of the events that make the festival unique; the top-class program is also second to none: Year after year, the biggest stars of the international literary scene make a pilgrimage to Zurich and honor the festival with exclusive appearances.
In addition to international stars, literary discoveries and innovative formats also characterize the program. The interdisciplinary curatorial approach ensures special experiences and surprises. Readings in the main program are often presented in conjunction with thematically linked projects from other disciplines - from poetic installations to concerts and performances at the intersection of text, dance and theater.
Look forward to a poetic overall experience that includes all the senses!
Our stages
Old Botanical Garden
Switzerland's most beautiful stage
Weather permitting, many of our events take place on our open-air stage amidst the lush nature of the Old Botanical Garden - an idyllic oasis in the center of Zurich.
Its history dates back to the year 1837. Today it is home to various old trees that give the garden its enchanting aura.
Old Botanical Garden
Pelikanstrasse 40
8001 Zurich
Entrance at the Ethnological Museum
Streetcar no. 2, 9 or bus no. 66 to Sihlstrasse
The Old Botanical Garden is only a 12-minute walk from Zurich Main Station.
https://www.bg.uzh.ch/en/altergarten.html
Co-Stars on stage
Imagine: You finally get the chance to see your favorite author live on stage - and what does the moderator do? He bores everybody, including the author, with his uninspired questions! A debacle. To make sure this doesn't happen and that our international stars get the dignified performance they deserve, we attach great importance to the fact that our co-stars also must shine and convince on stage! That's why we only work with the best and most stage-experienced presenters and speakers, who master the balancing act between demanding level, lively mediation and witty entertainment!
Long is the list of world famous guests he has hosted: Irvine Welsh, Junot Diaz, John Banville, Teju Cole, David Mitchell, Siri Hustvedt, T.C. Boyle, Jonathan Safran Foer, V.S. Naipaul, David Sedaris, Colm Tóibin, Rachel Kushner, Édouard Louis, Felwine Sarr, Yan Martel, A. L. Kennedy, David Nicholls, Howard Jacobson, Matias Faldbakken, Xiaolu Guo, Francesca Segal, Andrea Levy, Joey Goebel, Marisha Pessl, Tao Lin, Mohsin Hamid, Maaza Mengiste, and many others.
He became known through numerous television productions (including "Tatort"). In addition to his own productions and engagements at the theater (including the Schauspielhaus Zurich), he is also a highly sought-after reader.
PhD in philosophy from the University of Zurich, has hosted the SRF program "Sternstunde Philosophie" since 2010 and the "Café Philo" at the Literaturhaus Hamburg since 2019. She is a member of the Ethics Center at the University of Zurich. In 2018, her much-discussed book "Warum wir unseren Eltern nichts schulden" (Why we owe our parents nothing) was published.
PhD in philosophy from Humboldt University in Berlin, since 2013 editor and producer for the SRF program "Sternstunde Philosophie", since 2017 also as a presenter.
Studied German, Romance, Philosophy, and Comparative Literature at the Universities of Lausanne, Berlin, and Zurich, was project manager at Heller Enterprises for many years, and lecturer in image theory at the F+F School. From 2015 to 2019 she was co-director of the Museum Strauhof, and since 2013 she has been director of the Literaturhaus Zürich.
Studied religious studies and philosophy in Zurich, Munich and Vienna, has worked for SRF Kultur since 2016, and has hosted the SRF program "Sternstunde Religion" since 2019.
Studied at the Schauspielakademie Zürich, was in the ensemble at the Theater Konstanz from 1992 to 1996 and at the Staatstheater Saarbrücken from 1997 to 2003. This was followed by engagements at various theaters in German-speaking countries, as well as various roles for film and television.
After studying acting at the ZHdK, engagements at various theaters and diverse roles in TV productions followed.
After training as an actress at the Schauspielakademie Zurich, she worked for 8 years at the Stadttheater Heidelberg and the Bremer Shakespeare Company. In 2002 she founded her own school "Einfluss", where she prepares people for performances in front of an audience.
Studied acting at the HMT (today ZHdK). She acts in theater and in films, works as a narrator for audio books, documentaries and the weekly science program Einstein.
He studied art history, German studies and philosophy at the University of Zurich, was co-curator of the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2005 and director of the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, was a member of the SRF program Literaturclub and host of the program Sternstunde Philosophie. Since 2021, he has been director of the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA) in Lausanne.
Studied political science and sociology at the University of Zurich. Since 1997, active in various functions and for many successful SRF programs and documentary formats on Swiss television. Was the presenter of the morning show on Radio SRF3 for 17 years. Was host of the renowned literary series "Züri Littéraire" at Kaufleuten until 2018.
Completed her acting studies in Berlin. This was followed by engagements at various theaters such as the Hebbel am Ufer Berlin and the Schauspielhaus Zurich. From 2012 to 2019 she was engaged at Theater Basel. With Andreas Storm she developed the format "Worst Case Scenarios".
From 1992 to 1995 he attended the Schauspiel Akademie Zurich. From 1996 to 1998 he was a member of the ensemble of the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe. Since 1998 freelance actor, director and speaker in Zurich. Works, among others, at the Theater des Kanton Zürich, Theater Basel, Theaterhaus Gessnerallee Zürich, Neumarkt Theater, Theater an der Winkelwiese Zürich and Stadttheater Konstanz.
Was an editor and presenter at Radio SRF2 Kultur for 12 years. She now produces audio content for radio and podcasts in German and English. She is a member of the Cultural Promotion Commission of the Canton of Zurich (Fachstelle Literatur) and on the board of the Übersetzerhaus Looren.
Published in the Tagesanzeiger, NZZ Folio and Zueritipp, among others. Was head of the cultural program of Kaufleuten from 2013 to 2019. Since 2018, she is the host of the monthly literary series "Züri Littéraire". She currently works as a cultural mediator for children and young people.
Started her journalistic career in 1989 at the then Radio DRS 3, moved to Swiss Television in 1994, where she presented the programs "NeXt", "einfach luxuriös", "Einstein" and "Box Office", among others.
After studying at the Zurich University of the Arts, engagements followed at Theater Neumarkt and Thalia Theater Hamburg, among others. She has been a member of the ensemble of the Schauspielhaus Zürich since the 2019/20 season.
Studied political science in Berlin and Denmark, then worked for the TV youth program "Chat the Planet" in New York and from 2005 for NZZ Folio. He has been an editor at "Das Magazin" since 2015.
Grew up in Appenzell as the child of Turkish parents. Studied translation and interpreting with stations in Zurich, London and Vienna. Journalistic experience in the foreign editorial department of the Austrian daily newspaper 'Der Standard' in Vienna and at the 'Tages-Anzeiger'. Since then she has been working as a freelance journalist. Her reportages and articles appear in 'Das Magazin', NZZ and Tages-Anzeiger, among others. In 2021 she was nominated for the Swiss Press Award.
Prof. Dr. Sarah Owens is an educator and researcher who focuses on the history, practice and mediation of visual artifacts. She studied communication design in Augsburg and design history at the Royal College of Art in London. Since 2009 she has been teaching design theory and visual cultures at the Zurich University of the Arts.
He trained as an actor in Lucerne and Moscow, was a co-founder of the Zurich Off Off Bühne, a member of the ensemble of the Theater am Neumarkt and has worked with numerous directors in theater and film. He writes film scripts and plays, develops and revises material for feature films and series, and works as a dialogue writer.
Born in Angola and raised there as well as in former Yugoslavia and in Portugal, she studied English and German literatures and languages at the University of Porto. She then completed her PhD in American Studies at the University of Konstanz. From 2015 to 2021, she was Assistant Professor of Global Literatures in English at the University of Zurich. Today, she offers workshops on postcolonialism, antiracism, and rap. She is also head of the literature department at artlink.
Serena Dankwa (born 1975) holds a PhD from the Institute of Social Anthropology at the University of Bern, a teaching diploma from the Lucerne School of Music, and an MA in African Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Before becoming a researcher, she worked as a cultural journalist for Swiss Radio and Television SRF and for BBC Radio 3 in London, among others. She is also a founding member of Bla*Sh and co-editor of the book 'Racial Profiling'.
Etrit Hasler is one of the pioneers of Swiss slam poetry. He has performed at hundreds of slams in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Serbia, Egypt and the USA. He is also an accomplished and sought-after stage presenter.
She studied literary writing at the Swiss Literature Institute in Biel. In 2014, her debut novel 'Wurfschatten' was published. Her second novel 'Der Sprung' was published by Diogenes in 2019 and was nominated for the Swiss Book Prize. Simone Lappert is president of the Basel International Poetry Festival, curator of the international poetry association Babelsprech, and jury member of the Basel Poetry Prize.
Studied English and German at the universities of Chicago and Los Angeles, has worked as a literary editor for Swiss radio and television SRF since 2003.
First studied psychology and theater, film and media studies in Frankfurt, then graduated in performing arts at the Westfälische Schauspielschule Bochum, followed by many engagements in film, TV and theater, including as an ensemble member at Schauspiel Leipzig and Theater Neumarkt.
Has completed MA studies in art history, philosophy and cultural analysis at the University of Zurich. Was co-curator of Kunsthalle St. Gallen and lecturer in art history at F+F School of Art and Design. Since 2020 she is director of the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich.
Until 2010 he hosted the SRF program "Sternstunde Philosophie". Together with Stefan Zweifel, he edited the ten-volume translation of Marquis de Sade's "Justine and Juliette". Today he is a University lecturer and high school teacher of philosophy, as well as co-owner of the Zurich bookstore "Calligramme".
Studied behavioral biology and attended the Henri Nannen School of Journalism before spending many years as an editor and reporter at Der Spiegel. She has lived in Zurich since 2002, where she works for Das Magazin.
Studied German, French, history, sociology and philosophy in Basel, Berlin and Paris, then worked as a teacher at various schools. From 1996 until retirement (2013), he worked as a literary editor for DRS 2, later SRF2Kultur.
Studied acting at the Zurich University of the Arts, completed the master's program Scenic Arts Practice at the Bern University of the Arts, then studied literary writing at the Swiss Literature Institute Biel and the German Literature Institute Leipzig.
Studied Romance, English and German language and literature at the Goethe University in Frankfurt, translating literary works from Portuguese since 1992. Since 2001 he has run the review website Nova Cultura for literature and music from Portuguese-speaking countries.
Attended the German School in her hometown Buenos Aires and then studied German as a foreign language. Her novel 'Nachtleuchten' (2018) was honored with the Alfred Döblin Prize and the Chamisso Prize, and was shortlisted for the German Book Prize. In addition, María Cecilia Barbetta is a moderator who knows like no other how to conduct a conversation virtuously in two languages (Spanish, German) at the same time.
Studied philosophy, German language and literature, and psychology, and writes primarily about topics at the interface between culture and society.
Studied philosophy in Zurich and Paris, PhD in philosophy at the Free University of Berlin. Since 2003 she works as a journalist, author, editor, presenter and columnist for Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Zeit Online, and others.
Studied acting at the Schauspielakademie Zürich and Contemporary Arts Practice at the Literaturinstitut Biel and at the HdK Bern. Was engaged as an actress at various theaters (including Schauspielhaus Zürich) and in feature films. Writes plays and libretti.
Since the 1990s, he has presented various TV and radio formats on SRF (including "zeBra," "CASH-TV," "SF Spezial") and has written and directed a number of documentary films.
After studying at the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst 'Ernst Busch' Berlin, he was engaged in Karlsruhe, followed by engagements in various theaters, film and TV. Since 2014 he is a member of the ensemble of the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am in a wheelchair, what do I have to consider?
We strive to make our festival as barrier-free as possible. Access to our events is possible by wheelchair both at Kaufleuten and on the grounds of the Old Botanical Garden. The path to the open-air stage leads from the entrance of the Ethnological Museum via the bamboo path past the toilets to the pavilion. The steeper section of the path is paved, the flatter section of the path is over gravel.
Purchase or reserve your ticket regularly through the advance ticket office on this website. Admission for one accompanying person is free. Please contact us about a week before the event via e-mail so we can escort you to your seat with a clear view to the stage on the day of the event.
I would like to purchase a ticket for an event. What is the difference between "reserve" and "buy"?
Reserving tickets: You reserve your ticket on our website and pay at the box office on the day of the event.
Buying tickets: You pay your ticket securely by postcard, Twint or credit card on our website.
Which option you have chosen is shown on the ticket.
I have reserved or purchased a ticket for an event but did not receive a confirmation email - what happened?
Please check your spam, maybe our message has been stopped by your spam filter.
If you need help, contact us via e-mail.
I am unable to attend - how can I cancel my tickets?
Up to 30 days before the event you can cancel your reserved tickets via user account on our website. After this deadline your tickets are valid and will be charged in case of no-show. This is also written in the ticket reservation. Tickets that have already been paid for cannot be cancelled. If you are unable to attend, you can give the tickets away - our tickets are not personal
Is there a festival pass that is valid for all events?
Unfortunately, no passes are available for the upcoming 11th festival edition. We hope to be able to offer festival passes again from 2024.
Is there an age restriction for events at the Zurich Literature Festival?
In general, there is a minimum age of 18 years. Underage guests may come to our events if accompanied by a person of full age. The Literaturfestival Zürich does not assume any liability.
Is there a discount for students / AHV / IV / Kulturlegi?
Discounts are not available for all events. If discounted tickets are on sale, then the type of discount is declared online on our website for the respective event. Please show the ID that entitles you to the discount at the box office.
What are openair seat tickets? What happens in case of bad weather?
Openair seat tickets are reservations. They are only binding if the event takes place open-air in the Old Botanical Garden. You pay for the reservation at the box office. If the event takes place indoors, the reservation expires without you having to do anything.
When do you decide whether an event will take place outdoors or indoors?
We decide on the morning of the day of the event, based on local weather conditions, whether the event can take place open-air in the Old Botanical Garden. In case of bad weather, the events will take place in the announced alternative indoor location (usually at Kaufleuten). The decision will be communicated on this website from 12 noon on the day of the event.
What happens if an event is held outside and then it rains?
As soon as it has been communicated that the event will definitely take place open-air, it will be held even if the weather is unfavorable (e.g. rain). From this point on, it is no longer possible to move the event to a protected indoor area. In case of uncertain weather, it is recommended to bring warm and rainproof clothes, rain capes, sturdy shoes, etc. The setting up of umbrellas during the event is not permitted due to the associated obstruction of visibility for other visitors.
I purchased a streaming ticket. Where can I see the live broadcast?
On our website www.literaturfestivalzuerich.com, click on the "Digital Stage" field in the navigation bar (at the top of the website). Here you can now enter your personal access data, which you will find on your livestream ticket (PDF). We usually start the live stream 15 minutes before the event starts.
I want to watch a stream or video on your Digital Stage, but I can't log in. What is the reason?
Do you have a valid ticket for our digital content? The access authorization to our digital stage is limited in time: for livestreams it is limited to the duration of the event, for videos on demand the access authorization usually expires after 3 months (depending on the event). The personal access data can be found on the ticket (PDF), which will be sent to you by mail with the reservation confirmation.
Help! The event is about to start and I can't log in! What do I have to do?
We are available by e-mail shortly before and during the events. Please get in touch and we will try to help you as soon as possible so that you do not miss the beginning of the event.
The quality of the video broadcast does not meet my expectations. Will I get my money back?
With our live streams, we offer professional quality, as you would expect from live formats on television: Our experienced and well-rehearsed video production team has the latest technical equipment and captures the action on stage with several broadcast cameras, which are edited live by the video director. Since the technical setup is very elaborate and complex, we cannot 100% rule out the possibility of a malfunction during a live broadcast, despite careful preparation. In that case, we will of course try to fix the glitch as soon as possible. However, if the technical malfunction means that your enjoyment of the event is severely impaired, please send us an e-mail. As a rule, we do not refund any money, but we can send you a flawless video recording of the event after the live broadcast has ended.
Can I watch the live stream later?
Unfortunately no. For technical reasons, the live stream is only available for as long as the live event actually lasts.
However, we do offer our live recordings as video on demand after the festival. This means you can then watch the events at any time you wish. As a rule, the tickets for our videos on demand are valid for 3 months.
I bought a seat ticket for an event, but now I can't attend. Can I convert it into a live stream ticket?
Yes, this is possible. Please send us an e-mail to do so.
Does a seat ticket automatically give me access to the live stream?
No, a separate ticket must be purchased for the live stream.
I have a reservation for an open-air seat ticket. But now the event takes place indoors. Can I convert the reservation into a Livestream ticket?
If the event cannot take place open-air, your open-air seat reservation will expire without you having to do anything. If you would like to experience the event via livestream, please purchase an appropriate livestream ticket. (It is not possible to automatically convert an open-air ticket reservation into a livestream ticket).
Is it allowed to bring dogs?
Unfortunately, no. Dogs are prohibited in the Old Botanical Garden with the exception of guide dogs for the blind.
Is there a bar on site?
Our festival bar is open 90 minutes before the start of each event. In addition to drinks, we also offer sandwiches and snacks.
I would like to perform at your festival - what do I have to do?
Our program committee follows both the international and the domestic literary scene very actively. The selection for the program is always based on thematic priorities and curatorial considerations. Therefore, we do not accept applications for performances. Thank you for your understanding.