Literature at the Cathedral 2026

In Altenberg, books come alive. One of the most romantic places in Germany, Altenberg Cathedral, in the heart of the Bergisches Land region near Cologne, is home to the Literature at the Cathedral Festival.

A place that brings world literature to life. Imagine being immortal. Becoming an animal. Drifting with the clouds. Flying to the stars. Changing your body, your gender, your skin color, your religion, or your nationality at will. Humanity's greatest and oldest dream: that is literature. A game without limits. An inexhaustible realm of possibilities. A chance to experiment, to lose yourself with pleasure, and to rediscover yourself with bliss. An adventure with an uncertain outcome. That's what happens when you open a book. Become part of the adventure.

program: 
Thursday, January 25.06.2026th, XNUMX:

• 09:30 a.m. Eymard Toledo: Kayabu – A Story from the Amazon, reading and collage workshop for young people (grades 5-7)
• 18:30 p.m. Anja Kampmann: "Anger is a bright star", Moderated by Denis Scheck
• 20:00 p.m. Literary dinner with Hanns-Josef Ortheil; Reading dinner on "Suspension Railways", moderated by Denis Scheck
  
• 20:00 p.m. Leonie Swann: "Reunion", moderated by Bettina Böttinger

• 16:30 p.m. Christoph Hein: "The Ship of Fools", moderated by Denis Scheck
  
• 19:00 p.m. Helga Schubert: "Air to Live", Moderated by Sabine Küchler
  
• 21:00 PM Kitchen party with Dieter Müller and Marlon Rademacher, hosted by Denis Scheck

The events will take place in the herb garden of the Küchenhof (Carl-Mosterts-Straße 1, 51519 Odenthal). In case of bad weather, the readings will be moved to the cathedral garden of the Hotel Altenberger Hof (opposite Altenberg Cathedral).