German Non-Fiction Prize 2026: presenting the nominees

The jury for the German Non-Fiction Prize 2026 has shortlisted eight outstanding titles for the award. Since the call for submissions was announced, the seven members of the jury have reviewed 239 books published since April 2025, submitted by 132 publishers. 

Jury spokesperson Pascal Mathéus, “Wassermann” bookshop in Hamburg-Blankenese, released the following statement: “What should I do? This fundamental Kantian question best fits this year’s list of nominated titles for the German Non-Fiction Prize. In the face of pressing ethical questions of our time, these books offer orientation by looking ahead and looking back, by taking a wide view, or by bringing individual issues into sharp focus. Representing historical, political and medical approaches, they can necessarily offer only a partial snapshot. The jury nevertheless hopes that this snapshot is as broad and diverse as possible. Particular emphasis has been placed on style. In times of an exploding deluge of text produced by artificial sources, the ability to make sense of the present in clear and accessible language has become a value in itself.”

The nominated titles (in alphabetical order) are:

• Heike Behrend: Gespräche mit einem Toten. Gustaf Nagel, Prophet vom Arendsee (Matthes & Seitz Berlin), August 2025
• Florence Gaub: Szenario. Die Zukunft steht auf dem Spiel (dtv), November 2025
• Tilmann Lahme: Thomas Mann. Ein Leben (dtv), May 2025
• Konstantin Richter: Dreihundert Männer. Aufstieg und Fall der Deutschland AG (Suhrkamp), October 2025
• Irina Scherbakowa: Der Schlüssel würde noch passen. Moskauer Erinnerungen (Droemer) November 2025
• Bettina Schöne-Seifert: Leben, Körper, Tod. Zwölf aktuelle Kontroversen der Medizinethik (Wallstein), October 2025
• Roberto Simanowski: Sprachmaschinen. Eine Philosophie der künstlichen Intelligenz (C.H.Beck), October 2025
• Ronen Steinke: Meinungsfreiheit. Wie Polizei und Justiz unser Grundrecht einschränken – und wie wir es verteidigen (Berlin Verlag), February 2026

In addition to Pascal Mathéus, the members of the jury are: Sibylle Anderl (Die Zeit), Maja Brankovic (Wirtschaftswoche), Manuela Lenzen (science journalist), Patricia Rahemipour (Institute for Museum Research / Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz), Stefan Spiegel (funk / Marmota Maps), Katrin Vohland (Natural History Museum Vienna)

Prize and sponsorship

The prize, worth a total of 42,500 euros, is awarded by the Stiftung Buchkultur und Leseförderung des Börsenvereins des Deutschen Buchhandels (Foundation for Book Culture and the Promotion of Reading of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association) to honour the original German-language edition of an outstanding non-fiction book that inspires social debate.

The Deutsche Bank Stiftung (Deutsche Bank Foundation) is the main supporter of the prize, which is also backed by the City of Hamburg and Frankfurter Buchmesse.

From the eight shortlisted titles, the jury will select the non-fiction book of the year, which will be announced in Hamburg on 8 June 2026. The winner will receive 25,000 euros, while the seven nominees will each be awarded 2,500 euros. The awards ceremony will take place in the Small Hall of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg. 

Discover the nominees: conversations, films and blogger reviews

Together with its partners, the German Non-Fiction Prize provides its nominees with a platform. Reading enthusiasts and book lovers can discover the nominated titles and their authors through conversations, discussion panels and films. The dates of these events are available at https://www.deutscher-sachbuchpreis.de/en/events.

Service for booksellers: the VLB-TIX title information system provides its own preview of the shortlisted titles to help booksellers plan their selection.

Service for media representatives: media representatives will have the opportunity to meet the nominees and learn more about their books at a Meet & Greet in Berlin on 19 May at 4:30 pm. Please register by 12 May via Silke.OhlenforstNO SPAM SPAN!@agenturmondello.de.

With the hashtag #sachbuchpreisbloggen, eight book bloggers will present the nominated titles in the coming weeks. Their reviews will be shared through the social media channels of the German Non-Fiction Prize.

To follow the discussions about the German Non-Fiction Prize 2026, use the hashtag #DeutscherSachbuchpreis

Downloads 

Press photos of the jury and titles

For more information about the German Non-Fiction Prize 2026, go to www.deutscher-sachbuchpreis.de.