Wall of Fame Zurich Literature Festival 7-13 July 2025

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Born in 1977 in Enugu, Nigeria. Lives in Lagos and the USA.

Nigerian writer.

Festival appearance: 2025

Anne Enright

Born in Dublin in 1962, lives in Dublin.
Irish writer.
Booker Prize winner and Laureate for Irish Fiction.
Festival appearance: 2025

Emilia Roig

Born in 1983 in Dourdan, lives in Berlin.

French non-fiction writer, political scientist, and activist.

Festival appearance: 2025

Omri Boehm

born in 1979 in Haifa, lives in New York.
Israeli philosopher.
Festival appearance: 2025

Schön & Gut

Swiss artist duo consisting of Anna-Katharina Rickert and Ralf Schlatter.

Poetic and political cabaret since 2003.

Festival appearance: 2025 (Words on Stage)

Website

Reena Krishnaraja

Spoken word artist from Appenzell with Tamil roots.

Winner of the SRF Best Talent Comedy Award, 2022.

Festival appearance: 2025

Website

Gina Walter

Spoken word artist from Basel.
Swiss U20 champion in poetry slam, 2017.
Festival appearance: 2025

Website

Blas Ulibarri

Born 1973 in California, USA.
American moderator, translator, author.

Festival appearances as moderator: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2018, 2016, 2014

Nicola Steiner

Born 1973 in Berlin. Lives in Zurich.
German-Swiss presenter (SRF Literaturclub), cultural journalist and director of the Literaturhaus Zürich since 2024.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2025, 2024

Philipp Tingler

Born in 1970 in West Berlin, lives in Zurich.
Swiss-German writer and literary critic.
Festival appearance as moderator: 2025

Website

Alicia Aumüller

Born 1983 in Salzburg.
Austrian actress.
Member of the Schauspielhaus Zürich ensemble since 2019.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2025, 2023, 2022

Website

Pablo Vögtli

born 1985.
Swiss radio host, curator and host of «Bounce #Cypher», the biggest Swiss live rap event.
Festival appearances as presenter: 2025, 2024, 2023 (Words on Stage)

Website

Francis Fukuyama

Born in 1952 in Chicago, Illinois. Lives in Palo Alto, California.
American political scientist.
Festival appearance: 2025

Paul Lynch

Born in Limerick in 1977, lives in Dublin.

Irish writer.

Booker Prize winner.

Festival appearance: 2025

Nora Bossong

born 1982 in Bremen.

German writer.

Festival appearances: 2025, 2017

Jonas Lüscher

Born 1976 in Schlieren, Zurich.

Swiss writer,
winner of the Swiss Book Prize

Festival appearance: 2025, 2021

Kilian Ziegler

born 1984 in Olten.

Swiss spoken word artist and stand-up comedian,
double Swiss poetry slam champion.

Performance:
- 2025 (Words on Stage)
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason).

Website

Laurin Buser

Born 1991 in Basel.

Swiss spoken word artist, actor and rapper,
Winner of the Salzburger Stier.

Appearances:
- 2025 (Words on Stage)
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason, moderator).
- 2015 (moderator)

Website

Barbara Bleisch

born 1973 in Zurich

Swiss philosopher, author and TV moderator
("Sternstunde Philosophie")

Festival appearances:
- 2025 (host)
- 2024 (host)
- 2021 (host)
- 2019 (host)

Website

Jennifer Khakshouri

Born 1974 in Zurich.
Cultural journalist and presenter.
(e.g. “SRF Literaturclub”)
Festival appearances as moderator: 2025, 2022, 2017

Website

Sven Behrisch

Swiss cultural journalist and editor.

(including Die ZEIT, Tages-Anzeiger, Das Magazin)

Festival appearance as moderator: 2025

Ariela Sarbacher

Born 1961 in Zurich.
Actress, writer and presence trainer.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2025, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2016

Website

Alina Vimbai Strähler

Born in 1987 in Duisburg, lives in Berlin.
German actress.
Member of the ensemble at the Schaubühne Berlin since 2021.
Festival appearance as speaker: 2025

Website

Zadie Smith

born 1975 in Willesden, London, lives in London.
British writer.
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Connie Palmen

Born 1955 in Sint Odiliënberg, Limburg.
Dutch bestselling author (The Laws, 1993).
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Helen Macdonald

Born 1970 in Surrey, England.
British bestselling author (“H is for hawk”), illustrator and historian.
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

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Léa Steinacker

Born 1989 in Lower Saxony, lives in Germany.
German social scientist, entrepreneur and author (with a focus on artificial intelligence, AI ethics and social justice.) Co-founder of the learning platform ada.
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Dominik Muheim

Born 1992 in Basel.
Swiss spoken word author and cabaret artist.
Five-time Swiss poetry slam champion.
Winner of the Salzburger Stier 2024.
Festival appearance: 2024

Leila Ladari

Swiss stand-up comedian and actress
with Tunisian and Austrian roots.
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Barbara Bleisch

born 1973 in Zurich

Swiss philosopher, author and TV moderator
("Sternstunde Philosophie")

Festival appearances:
- 2025 (host)
- 2024 (host)
- 2021 (host)
- 2019 (host)

Website

Nicola Steiner

Born 1973 in Berlin. Lives in Zurich.
German-Swiss presenter (SRF Literaturclub), cultural journalist and director of the Literaturhaus Zürich since 2024.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2025, 2024

Mikael Krogerus

Born 1976 in Stockholm, Finnish nationality, lives in Zurich.
German-language journalist, author and presenter.
He has been an editor at Das Magazin in Zurich since 2015.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2018, 2018

Website

Ana Sobral

Born 1980 in Angola.
Literary scholar, presenter and artistic director of Weiter Schreiben Schweiz.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2023, 2023.

Website

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Miriam Japp

Born 1968 in Lübeck.
German-Swiss actress.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2024, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017

Website

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Saša Stanišić

Born 1978 in Višegrad, Yugoslavia, lives in Germany.
German-Bosnian writer.
Winner of the German Book Prize (Where You Come From, 2019).
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Hua Hsu

Born in Champaign-Urbana, USA. Lives in New York.
American author, journalist and professor.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize (“Stay True”, 2023).
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Miriam Meckel

Born 1967 in Hilden, Germany.
German communication scientist, publicist, professor of corporate communication and founder of the learning platform ada.
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Olivia El Sayed

Born 1981

Spoken word artist.

Festival Performance:
2024 (Words on Stage)
2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

Michael Elsener

Born 1985 in Zug.
Swiss satirist, cabaret artist, parodist and stand-up comedian.
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Häberli Oggier

Artist duo consisting of the two Bernese musicians and language artists Lorenz Häberli and Luc Oggier. They are better known under their band name 'Lo & Leduc'. Their song “O79” is one of the best-known Swiss pop hits and topped the charts for weeks in 2018.
Festival appearance: 2024

Website

Blas Ulibarri

Born 1973 in California, USA.
American moderator, translator, author.

Festival appearances as moderator: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2018, 2016, 2014

Mona Vetsch

born 1975 in Thurgau.
Swiss TV and radio presenter and entertainer.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2024, 2015

Pablo Vögtli

born 1985.
Swiss radio host, curator and host of «Bounce #Cypher», the biggest Swiss live rap event.
Festival appearances as presenter: 2025, 2024, 2023 (Words on Stage)

Website

Thomas Sarbacher

Born 1961 in Hamburg.
German film and theater actor.
Festival appearances as a speaker:
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013

Website

Andreas Storm

Born 1969 in Bremen.
German actor.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2024, 2023.

Website

Bernardine Evaristo

born 1959 in London.
British author and activist,
Booker Prize winner.
Festival appearance: 2023

Website

Robert Seethaler

born 1966 in Vienna, lives in Berlin.
Austrian writer and actor.
Festival appearance: 2023

Website

Geetanjali Shree

born 1957 in Mainpuri, India. Lives in Delhi.
Indian writer,
Winner of the International Booker Prize.
Festival appearance: 2023

Website

Julia Steiner

born in 2000.
Swiss slam poet and author.
Winner of the Zurich Poetry Slam Championships 2023.
Festival appearance: 2023 (Words on Stage)

Website

Marco Gurtner

born 1993 in Thun.

Swiss slam poet, musician and presenter,
Swiss poetry slam champion, 2019.

Festival appearance: 2022 (Words on Stage, moderation).

Dezmond Dez

geb. 1980 in Bern.

Schweizer Mundart-Rapper.

Festivalauftritt: 2023 (zusammen mit Tommy Vercetti, Words on Stage)

Website

Michael Fehr

born 1982 in Bern.

Swiss writer and musician.

Festival performance: 2015

Website

Ozan Zakariya Keskinkılıç

1989 in Hessen, lebt in Berlin.
Deutscher Politwissenschaftler und Autor.
Festivalauftritt: 2023

Olivia Röllin

Born 1990.
Swiss philosopher and television presenter (“Sternstunde Religion”)
Festival appearances as moderator: 2023, 2021

Website

Alicia Aumüller

Born 1983 in Salzburg.
Austrian actress.
Member of the Schauspielhaus Zürich ensemble since 2019.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2025, 2023, 2022

Website

Alexander Seibt

Born 1967 in Frankfurt am Main.
German actor and screenwriter.
Festival appearances as speaker: 2023

Website

Deborah Levy

born 1959 in South Africa, lives in London.
British writer.
Festival appearance: 2023

Website

David Mitchell

born 1969 in Southport, England.

British bestselling author

('Cloud Atlas').

Festival performance:

- 2016
- 2023

Website

Ulrike Haidacher

born 1985 in Graz. Lives in Vienna.

Austrian cabaret artist and author.
Half of the theater cabaret duo "Flüsterzweieck".
Winner of the Austrian Cabaret Prize 2017 and the
Austrian Literature Prize for short stories 2022.
Festival appearance: 2023 (Words on Stage)

Website

Cenk Korkmaz

geb. 1988 in Winterthur.
Schweizer Comedian, Radiomoderator und Kolumnist.
Gewinner des Comedy Club Award 2020.
Festivalauftritt: 2023

Website

Tommy Vercetti

geb. 1981 in Bern.
Schweizer Mundart-Rapper.
Festivalauftritt: 2023 (zusammen mit Dezmond Dez, Words on Stage)

Website

Sascha Rijkeboer

geb. 1994
Schweizer Trans-Aktivist*in, Performer*in und Kolumnist*in.
Festivalauftritt: 2023

Franziska Schutzbach

geb. 1978
Schweizer Geschlechterforscherin, Soziologin und Autorin.
Festivalauftritt: 2023

Website

Peter Schneider

geb. 1957 in Dorsten, Deutschland. Lebt in Zürich.
Schweizer Psychoanalytiker, Autor und Kolumnist.
Festivalauftritt: 2023

Website

Simone Lappert

Born 1985 in Aarau.

Swiss novelist and poet.

Festival appearance: 2023 (Moderation), 2021

Website

Cathrin Störmer

Born 1969 in Göttingen.
German theater and film actress.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2023, 2013

Website

Serena Dankwa

Born 1975.
Swiss social anthropologist, gender researcher, television presenter and journalist.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2023

Marlon James

Born 1970 in Kingston. Lives in New York, USA.

Jamaican writer,
Booker Prize winner.

Festival appearance: 2022

Website

David Grossman

Born 1954 in Jerusalem.

Israeli writer and peace activist,

Booker Prize winner and Peace Prize winner of the German Book Trade.

Festival appearance: 2022

Website

Wolf Haas

Born 1960 in Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer.

Austrian bestselling author ('Brenner' crime series).

Festival appearance: 2022

Zeal & Ardor

Music project by Manuel Gagneux (CH/USA).

Genre: mixture of black metal and gospel.

Festival appearance: 2022 (Poetry of Pop)

Website

Mercee

Swiss R'n'B singer and songwriter (born 1998 as Alessia Buttolo) with Cuban roots.

Festival appearance: 2022

Website

Jule Weber

born 1993 in Bensheim, lives in Bochum, Germany.

German poetry slammer, lyricist and author.

Festival appearance: 2022 (Words on Stage)

Website

Fine Degen

born 2001 in Basel.

Swiss slam poet,
U22 Swiss Poetry Slam Champion 2022.

Festival appearance: 2022 (Words on Stage)

Marco Gurtner

born 1993 in Thun.

Swiss slam poet, musician and presenter,
Swiss poetry slam champion, 2019.

Festival appearance: 2022 (Words on Stage, moderation).

Sarah Owens

Born 1977 in Heidelberg.
Presenter and design scientist.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2022, 2019

Ariela Sarbacher

Born 1961 in Zurich.
Actress, writer and presence trainer.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2025, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2016

Website

María Cecilia Barbetta

Born 1972 in Buenos Aires. Lives in Berlin.
Argentinian author and presenter.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2022

Website

Tsitsi Dangarembga

Born 1959 in Mutoko, Rhodesia.

Zimbabwean author and filmmaker, Peace Prize winner of the German Book Trade.

Festival appearance: 2022

Ece Temelkuran

Born 1973 in Izmir.

Turkish journalist and writer.

Festival appearance: 2022

Website

Elvira Sastre

Born 1992 in Segovia.

Spanish poet and author.

Festival appearance: 2022

Website

Danitsa

born 1994 in Paris, lives in Geneva.

Swiss singer and songwriter.

Genre: Hip-Hop, Soul / New Soul.

Festival appearance: 2022 (Poetry of Pop)

Website

Reeto von Gunten

Swiss spoken word artist, radio host and author,
born 1663 in Grosshöchstetten.

Festival appearance: 2022 (Words on Stage)

Website

Christoph Simon

born 1972 in Emmenthal.

Swiss writer and stand-up comedian,
Winner of the Salzburger Stier and two-time Swiss Poetry Slam champion.

Festival appearances:

- 2022 (Words on Stage)
- 2021 (Words on Stage, host)

Website

Cachita

Swiss rapper, songwriter and singer (born 1999) with Cuban roots.

Festival appearance: 2022 (Words on Stage)

Website

Jennifer Khakshouri

Born 1974 in Zurich.
Cultural journalist and presenter.
(e.g. “SRF Literaturclub”)
Festival appearances as moderator: 2025, 2022, 2017

Website

Tuğba Ayaz

Born 1986 in St. Gallen.
Swiss journalist and presenter.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2022

Etrit Hasler

Born 1977 in St. Gallen.

Swiss spoken word artist and moderator.

Festival appearances: 2022 (Moderator), 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

Oriana Schrage

Born 1977 in Israel.
German-Brazilian-Swiss film and theater actress.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2022, 2019

Website

Leïla Slimani

Born 1981 in Rabat, Morocco. Lives in Paris.

French-Moroccan writer
('The Perfect Nanny'), winner of the Prix Goncourt

Festival appearance: 2021

Carolin Emcke

Born 1967 in Mülheim an der Ruhr.

German publicist and philosopher,
winner of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.

Festival performances:
- 2021
- 2018

Website

Alice Hasters

Born 1989 in Cologne.

German author and feminist
("What white people don’t want to hear about racism, but should know anyway").

Festival appearance: 2021

Nina Kunz

Born 1993 in Zurich.

Swiss journalist and author

Festival appearance: 2021

Website

Jonas Lüscher

Born 1976 in Schlieren, Zurich.

Swiss writer,
winner of the Swiss Book Prize

Festival appearance: 2025, 2021

Simone Lappert

Born 1985 in Aarau.

Swiss novelist and poet.

Festival appearance: 2023 (Moderation), 2021

Website

Bit-Tuner

Born 1978 in St. Gallen.

Swiss musician

Festival appearance: 2021 (Poetry of Pop)

Website

Tanja Kummer

born 1976 in Frauenfeld, Thurgau.

Swiss writer and spoken word author.

Festival appearance: 2021 (Words on Stage)

Website

Ágota Dimén

Born 1985 in Transylvania, Romania. Lives in Switzerland.

Actress and comedian.

Festival appearance: 2021 (Words on Stage)

Website

Rebekka Lindauer

Born 1996 in Halle/Saale, Germany.

Swiss spoken word artist and stand-up comedian.

Festival appearance: 2021 (Words on Stage)

Website

Wladimir Kaminer

born 1967 in Moscow.

German bestselling author

('Russian Disco').

Festival performance:
- 2021 (Offseason)
- 2015

Website

Kilian Ziegler

born 1984 in Olten.

Swiss spoken word artist and stand-up comedian,
double Swiss poetry slam champion.

Performance:
- 2025 (Words on Stage)
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason).

Website

Uta Köbernick

Born 1976 in Berlin.

German singer-songwriter, comedian and actress, Winner of the Salzburger Stier.

Performance: 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

Olivia El Sayed

Born 1981

Spoken word artist.

Festival Performance:
2024 (Words on Stage)
2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

Stefanie Grob

Born 1975 in Bern.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Performance: 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

Simon Chen

born 1972 in Freiburg.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Festival performance:
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)
- 2019 (Words on Stage)

Website

Gesa Schneider

Literary scholar, curator and moderator.
Director of the Literaturhaus Zürich from 2014-2023.
Director of the Museum zu Allerheiligen in Schaffhausen since 2014.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2021, 2018, 2016, 2016, 2015, 2014

Salome Hohl

Born 1985 in Wolfhalden.
Art historian and curator,
Director of the Cabaret Voltaire since 2020.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2021

Thomas Sarbacher

Born 1961 in Hamburg.
German film and theater actor.
Festival appearances as a speaker:
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013

Website

Christoph Ransmayr

Born 1954 in Wels, Upper Austria.

Austrian bestselling author.

Festival appearance: 2021

Arnon Grünberg

Born 1971 in Amsterdam.

Dutch bestselling author.

Festival appearance: 2021

Website

Margarete Stokowski

born 1986 in Zabrze, Poland. Lives in Berlin.

Polish-German author, columnist and feminist.

("Untenrum frei")

Festival appearance: 2021

KT Gorique

Born 1991 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Swiss rapper and dancer,
Winner of the Swiss Music Award.

Festival appearance: 2021 (Poetry of Pop)

Pedro Lenz

Born 1965 in Langenthal, Bern

Swiss author
("Der Goalie bin ig")

Festival appearance: 2021

Website

Manuel Stahlberger

Born 1974 in St. Gallen.

Swiss songwriter, comedian and comic artist.

Festival appearances:

- 2021 (Poetry of Pop)
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

Trummer

Born 1978 in Frutigen, Bern.

Swiss singer/songwriter.

Festival appearance: 2021 ( Poetry of Pop)

Website

Guy Krneta

Born 1964 in Bern.

Swiss playwright and author.

Festival appearance: 2021 (Words on Stage)

Website

Gülsha Adilji

Born 1985 in Niederuzwil.

Swiss journalist, TV presenter and spoken word author.

Festival appearances:
- 2021 (Words on Stage)
- 2018 (Words on Stage, host)

Website

Christoph Simon

born 1972 in Emmenthal.

Swiss writer and stand-up comedian,
Winner of the Salzburger Stier and two-time Swiss Poetry Slam champion.

Festival appearances:

- 2022 (Words on Stage)
- 2021 (Words on Stage, host)

Website

Manuel Stahlberger

Born 1974 in St. Gallen.

Swiss songwriter, comedian and comic artist.

Festival appearances:

- 2021 (Poetry of Pop)
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

9 Volt Nelly

Stage duo consisting of Lea Whitcher and Jane Mumford.

Musical satire.

Performance: 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

Etrit Hasler

Born 1977 in St. Gallen.

Swiss spoken word artist and moderator.

Festival appearances: 2022 (Moderator), 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)

Website

Lisa Christ

born 1991 in Olten.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Festival performance:
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)
- 2018 (Words on Stage)

Website

Laurin Buser

Born 1991 in Basel.

Swiss spoken word artist, actor and rapper,
Winner of the Salzburger Stier.

Appearances:
- 2025 (Words on Stage)
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason, moderator).
- 2015 (moderator)

Website

Barbara Bleisch

born 1973 in Zurich

Swiss philosopher, author and TV moderator
("Sternstunde Philosophie")

Festival appearances:
- 2025 (host)
- 2024 (host)
- 2021 (host)
- 2019 (host)

Website

Yves Bossart

Born 1983 in Lucerne.
TV presenter (SRF “Sternstunde Philosophie”),
philosopher and author.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2021, 2016.

Anuschka Roshani

Born 1976 in West Berlin.
German journalist and writer.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2021

Nora Zukker

Born 1974 in Wädenswil.
Literary editor and author.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2021

Julian Barnes

born 1946 in Leicester, UK.

English bestselling author

('The Sense of an Ending').

Booker prize winner.

Festival performance: 2019

Website

Deborah Feldman

born 1986 in New York.

US-American bestselling author ('Unorthodox').

Festival performance: 2019

Website

Terézia Mora

born 1971 in Sopron.

Hungarian writer.

Winner of the German Book Prize and the Georg Büchner Prize.

Festival performance: 2019

Website

Judith Schalansky

born 1980 in Greifswald.

German bestselling author

('Atlas of Remote Islands')

Festival performance: 2019

Matto Kämpf

born 1970 in Thun.

Swiss spoken word artist, theatremaker, filmmaker.

Festival performance: 2019 (Words on Stage)

Website

Simon Chen

born 1972 in Freiburg.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Festival performance:
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)
- 2019 (Words on Stage)

Website

Interrobang

Swiss spoken word stage duo,

consisting of Valerio Moser and Manuel Diener.

Two-time Swiss champions and two-time German-speaking champions in Team Poetry Slam.

Festival appearance: 2019 (Words on Stage)

Website

Michael Kegler

Born 1967 in Giessen.
German literary critic and translator.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2019

Website

Roxane Gay

born 1974 in Omaha, Nebraska.

US-American feminist and bestselling author ('Bad Feminist')

Festival performance: 2019

Website

Mia Couto

born 1955 in Beira.

Mozambican writer.

Festival performance: 2019

Website

Lukas Bärfuss

born 1971 in Thun.

Swiss dramatist, novelist, essayist.

Georg Büchner Prize winner.

Festival performance: 2019

Website

Helene Bockhorst

born 1987 in Hamburg-Harburg.

German spoken word artist.

Festival performance: 2019 (Words on Stage)

Website

Lara Stoll

born 1987 in Schaffhausen.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Multiple Swiss and European champion in Poetry Slam.

Winner of the German Cabaret Prize.

Festival performance: 2019 (Words on Stage)

Website

Knackeboul

born 1982 in Langenthal.

Swiss beatboxer, rapper and presenter.

Festival appearance:
- 2019 (Words on Stage, host)
- 2018 (Words on Stage)

Website

Juri Steiner

born 1969 in Zurich.
Swiss art historian, curator and TV presenter
(SRF “Sternstunde Philosophie”)
Festival appearances as moderator: 2019

John Banville

born 1945 in Wexford.

Irish writer ('The Sea'),

Booker prize winner.

Festival performance: 2018

Website

Rebecca Solnit

born 1961 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

US-American writer, feminist and essayist
('Men Explain Things to Me').

Festival performance: 2018

Website

Carolin Emcke

Born 1967 in Mülheim an der Ruhr.

German publicist and philosopher,
winner of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.

Festival performances:
- 2021
- 2018

Website

Teju Cole

born 1975 in Kalamazoo, USA, grew up in Nigeria.

Nigerian-American writer, photographer and art historian.

Festival performances:
- 2018
- 2014

Website

Jens Nielsen

born 1966 in Aarau

Swiss spoken word artist, actor and playwright.

Festival performance: 2018 (Words on Stage)

Website

Patti Basler

born 1976 in Zeihen.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Prizewinner of the Salzburger Stier.

Festival performance:
- 2018 (Words on Stage)
- 2017 (Words on Stage, host)

Website

Gülsha Adilji

Born 1985 in Niederuzwil.

Swiss journalist, TV presenter and spoken word author.

Festival appearances:
- 2021 (Words on Stage)
- 2018 (Words on Stage, host)

Website

Britta Spichiger

born 1968.
Literary journalist.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2018

Catherine Newmark

born 1976.
Swiss philosopher and journalist.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2018

Sofi Oksanen

born 1977 in Jyväskylä, Finland.

Estonian-Finnish bestselling author

('Purge').

Festival performance: 2019

Website

Irvine Welsh

born 1958 in Leith, Edinburgh.

British bestselling author

('Trainspotting').

Festival performance: 2018

Website

Clemens J. Setz

born 1982 in Graz.

Austrian writer.

Festival performance: 2018

Renato Kaiser

born 1985 in Goldach.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Prizewinner of the Salzburger Stier.

Festival performance: 2018 (Words on Stage)

Website

Knackeboul

born 1982 in Langenthal.

Swiss beatboxer, rapper and presenter.

Festival appearance:
- 2019 (Words on Stage, host)
- 2018 (Words on Stage)

Website

Lisa Christ

born 1991 in Olten.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Festival performance:
- 2021 (Words on Stage, Offseason)
- 2018 (Words on Stage)

Website

Corina Freudiger

geb. 1978.
Schweizer Kulturjournalistin, Veranstalterin, Autorin.
Festivalauftritte als Moderatorin: 2018, 2016, 2013

Sarah Sandeh

Born 1980 in Darmstadt.
German-Iranian actress.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2018

Website

John M. Coetzee

born 1940 in Cape Town, lives in Adelaide, Australia.

South African writer.
Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature,
two-time Booker Prize winner.

Festival performance: 2017

Judith Hermann

born 1970 in Berlin.

German bestselling author

('Summerhouse, Later')

Festival performance: 2017

Website

Jochen Distelmeyer

born 1967 in Bielefeld.

German Musician, songwriter and author. He became known as singer and guitarist of the band 'Blumfeld'.

Festival performance: 2017 (Words on Stage)

Website

Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor

born 1968 in Nairobi.

Kenyan writer.

Festival performance: 2017

Anna Aaron

born 1985 in Basel.

Swiss singer / songwriter.

Festival performance: 2017 (Poetry of Pop)

Website

Jurczok 1001

born 1974 in Wädenswil.

Swiss spoken word artist; he is vocal artist, human beatbox and singer in one.

Festival performance: 2017 (Words on Stage)

Website

Ariane von Graffenried

born 1978 in Bern.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Festival performance: 2017 (Words on Stage)

Website

Jonas Rüegg

born 1981.
German-Swiss actor.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2017, 2015

Website

Guido Kalberer

Journalist and head of the culture department at Tages-Anzeiger.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2017, 2016, 2013.

Junot Díaz

born 1968 in Santo Domingo.

US-American-Dominican writer.

Pulitzer Prize winner.

Festival performance: 2017

Website

Frank Spilker

born 1966 in Herford.

German musician, songwriter and author. He became known as singer and guitarist of the band 'Die Sterne'.

Festival performance: 2017 (Poetry of Pop)

Website

Anthony McCarten

born 1961 in New Plymouth.

New Zealand writer, playwright, screenwriter and film producer.

('The Theory of Everything')

Festival performance: 2017

Nora Bossong

born 1982 in Bremen.

German writer.

Festival appearances: 2025, 2017

Jozia

born 1993 in Daveyton.

South African singer and songwriter.

Festival appearances:
- 2017 (Poetry of Pop)
- 2015 (Acoustic set)

Website

Amina Abdulkadir

born 1985 in Mogadiscio, Somalia.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Festival performance: 2017 (Words on Stage)

Website

Patti Basler

born 1976 in Zeihen.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Prizewinner of the Salzburger Stier.

Festival performance:
- 2018 (Words on Stage)
- 2017 (Words on Stage, host)

Website

Monika Schärer

born 1968.
Swiss TV presenter, editor and producer of various SRF programs.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2017

Website

David Mitchell

born 1969 in Southport, England.

British bestselling author

('Cloud Atlas').

Festival performance:

- 2016
- 2023

Website

Ayelet Gundar-Goshen

born 1982 in Tel Aviv.

Israeli writer.

Festival performance: 2016

Shumona Sinha

born 1973 in Calcutta, lives in Paris.

Indian-born french writer

Festival performance: 2016

Ralf König

born 1960 in Soest, Westfalen.

Germany's most successful comic author.

Festival performance: 2016

Website

Michelle Steinbeck

born 1990 in Lenzburg.

Swiss author

Festival appearances:
- 2016 (host)
- 2015 (curator)

Peter Sloterdijk

born 1947 in Karlsruhe.

Publicist, cultural scientist and Germany's most famous contemporary philosopher.

Festival performance: 2016

Website

Judith Holofernes

born 1976 in West-Berlin.

German Musician, songwriter and author. She became known as singer and guitarist of the band 'Wir sind Helden'.

Festival performance: 2016

Website

Margriet de Moor

born 1941 in Noordwijk.

Dutch bestselling author.

Festival performance: 2016

Nell Zink

born 1964 in California.

US-American writer.

Festival performance: 2016

Felix Schneider

Born 1948 in Basel.
Swiss literary editor and presenter.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2016

Website

John Cleese

born 1939 in Weston-super-Mare.

English comedian, actor, screenwriter and member of the legendary comedy group "Monty Python".

Festival performance: 2015

Website

Xiaolu Guo

born 1973 in Pinyin Guō Xiǎolǔ, China.

Chinese film director and author.

Festival performance: 2015

Website

Viktor Jerofejev

born 1947 in Moscow.

Russian writer and pugnacious intellectual.

Festival performance: 2015

Ruth Schweikert

born 1965 in Lörrach.

Swiss writer.

Festival performance: 2015

Michael Fehr

born 1982 in Bern.

Swiss writer and musician.

Festival performance: 2015

Website

Dagny Gioulami

Born 1970 in Bern.
Swiss-Greek actress and writer.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2015

Website

Sven Regener

born 1961 in Bremen.

German musician, songwriter and bestselling author ("Berlin Blues"). He became known as singer and lyricist of the band 'Element of Crime'.

Festival performance: 2015

Website

Michail Schischkin

born 1961 in Moscow.

Russian writer.

Winner of the three most important literary awards of Russia.

Festival performance: 2015

Wladimir Kaminer

born 1967 in Moscow.

German bestselling author

('Russian Disco').

Festival performance:
- 2021 (Offseason)
- 2015

Website

Jozia

born 1993 in Daveyton.

South African singer and songwriter.

Festival appearances:
- 2017 (Poetry of Pop)
- 2015 (Acoustic set)

Website

Hannes Hug

Born 1968 in Basel.
Journalist, filmmaker and TV presenter.
Festival appearances as moderator: 2015

Website

Marlene Streeruwitz

born 1950 in Baden bei Wien.

Austrian writer and director.

Festival performance: 2014

Website

Teju Cole

born 1975 in Kalamazoo, USA, grew up in Nigeria.

Nigerian-American writer, photographer and art historian.

Festival performances:
- 2018
- 2014

Website

Tino Hanekamp

born 1979 in Wippra, lives in Mexico.

German music journalist and bestselling author

('So was von da').

Festival performance: 2014

Michael Stauffer

born 1972 in Winterthur.

Swiss spoken word artist.

Festival performance: 2014

Website

Gerhard Polt

born 1942 in Munich.

German comedian, writer, television and film actor.

Festival performance: 2014

Website

Güzin Kar

born 1967 in İskenderun, Turkey.

Swiss Film director, screenwriter and columnist.

Festival performance: 2014

Website

Ben Moore

born 1966 in the UK.

British author and professor of astrophysics.

Festival performance: 2014

Website

Esther Becker

Born 1948 in Erlangen.
German playwright, actress and author.
Festival appearances as a speaker: 2014

Website

Wilhelm Genazino

born 1943 in Mannheim,
died 2018 in Frankfurt.

German writer,
Georg Büchner Prize Winner.

Festival performance: 2013

Olga Grjasnowa

born 1984 in Baku, Azerbaijan,
grew up in the Caucasus,

German writer.

Festival performance: 2013

Friedrich Achleitner

born 1930 in Schalchen,

died 2019 in Wien.

Austrian writer, sound poet, member of the legendary Wiener Gruppe (Vienna group).

Festival performance: 2013

Martin Felder

born 1974 in Rheinfelden.

Swiss writer.

Festival performance: 2013

Anna Trauffer

born 1980 in Bern.

Swiss double bass player and theater musician.

Festival appearance: 2013

Website

Jannek Petri

Born 1975 in Berlin.
German actor and filmmaker.
Festival appearance as speaker: 2013

Roger Willemsen

born 1955 in Bonn, died 2016 in Wentorf bei Hamburg.

Bestselling author, publicist, moderator, producer and Germany's most popular intellectual.

Festival performance: 2013

Website

Dorothee Elmiger

born 1985 in Wetzikon.

Swiss writer.

Festival performance: 2013

Website

Gerhard Rühm

born 1930 in Vienna.

Austrian sound poet, composer, visual artist, member of the legendary Wiener Gruppe (Vienna Group).

Festival performance: 2013

Gerhard Meister

born 1967 in the Emmental valley.

Swiss writer and spoken word artist.

Prizewinner of the Salzburger Stier.

Festival performance: 2013

Website

Michael Pfister

Born 1967 in Zurich.
Doctor of Philosophy, translator, TV presenter (SRF “Sternstunde Philosophie”).
Festival appearances as moderator: 2013