Shida Bazyar receives the German Book Prize 2026 for “Die Lücken” (“Omissions”)

Statement from the jury:
“At home in Heimesbach – is that possible? Through the fates of individual characters, Shida Bazyar’s novel ‘Die Lücken’ (‘Omissions’) reflects on nearly a century of the ambivalence of life in Germany. There were neighbours who watched as Jewish people disappeared from the streets. There are neighbours who make decisions that determine whether people with migrant backgrounds feel at home. The author employs compelling literary strategies: the perspective of a dead narrator and the text’s kaleidoscopic structure enable the novel to move between different periods, as well as to create intimacy and distance. The close interweaving of fictional and documentary elements, of invented and historical figures – who are also given a voice – adds to the book’s powerful resonance. A novel that stands against indifference.”

The members of the jury for the German Book Prize 2026 are: jury spokesperson Cornelia Geißler (Berliner Zeitung), Theresa Donner (“heiter bis wolkig” bookshop, Halle an der Saale), Jan Ehlert (NDR), Maha El Hissy (literary scholar), Emily Grunert (Literaturbüro NRW), Stefanie Kreuzer (University of Kassel) and Adam Soboczynski (DIE ZEIT).

“The German Book Prize makes visible what literature is capable of: it creates a form of understanding and strengthens our empathetic ability to seek ourselves in others and to find ourselves there. Through writing and reading, reading aloud and listening, we move towards one another and remain open to one another. This is undoubtedly one of the German Book Prize’s greatest achievements: it is an invitation to dialogue”, says Sebastian Guggolz, President of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers and Booksellers Association).

The following novels were also shortlisted for the award:
Franziska Gänsler: “Orca” (Kein & Aber, August 2026), Valeria Gordeev: “Die Zikade entschlüpft ihrer goldglänzenden Hülle” (S. Fischer, August 2026), Elias Hirschl: “Schleifen” (Paul Zsolnay, January 2026), Peggy Mädler: “Selbstregulierung des Herzens” (Galiani Berlin, February 2026) and Dana Vowinckel: “Anton und Alma” (Suhrkamp, September 2026).

Shida Bazyar receives 25,000 euros, the five finalists 2,500 euros each. The winning title was determined through a multi-stage selection process. Since the call for submissions went out, the seven jury members have reviewed 205 titles published between October 2025 and September 2026. From these novels, they compiled a longlist of 20 titles, from which the jury selected six for the shortlist. The award ceremony was held in the Kaisersaal of the Frankfurt Römer.

With the German Book Prize 2026, 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) honours the best German-language novel of the year. Deutsche Bank Stiftung (Deutsche Bank Foundation) is the main sponsor of the German Book Prize, and Frankfurter Buchmesse and the city of Frankfurt am Main are also partners.

Under the hashtag #buchpreisbloggen, 20 literary bloggers present the 2026 nominated titles. The reviews are published at www.deutscher-buchpreis.de/news and shared via the German Book Prize’s social media channels.

Further information and details of selected reading events with Shida Bazyar are available at www.deutscher-buchpreis.de.

A press photograph of Shida Bazyar will be available at www.boersenverein.de/pressefotos from approximately 8.30 p.m.

The hashtag for the German Book Prize is #dbp26.