The authors who will be participating in events at the fair as well as others taking place outside it were chosen because all four have recently had their works published in the German language. Last year the books Vārnas [Crows] by Laura Vinogradova, Kalendārs mani sauc [Call me Calendar] by Andris Kalnozols and Puika, kurš redzēja tumsā [The Boy Who Could See in the Dark] by Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce came out in German, while Brīvībene [My place on Freedom Street] by Svens Kuzmins was published earlier this year. A total of six works of Latvian literature were published in German translation in 2025; in addition to those previously mentioned there were also Lizergīnblūzs [Acid Blues] by Vilis Kasims, Ledus okeāns [Ice Ocean] by Dace Vīgante and the children’s book Trīs runči un viņu cilvēks [Three Cats and Their Human] by Olita Tidomane.
“I am delighted that the work invested is bearing fruit, and in Germany new works of Latvian literature continue to be published every year. Authors are also being given the opportunity to meet their German readers, as proven by the wealth of events programmed for them in Leipzig”, stated the CEO of the Latvian Literature platform, Inga Bodnarjuka-Mrazauskas.
Both at the Leipzig Book Fair and outside it, nine events will be held with a focus on Latvian literature. On 19 March at 16:30 there will be a meeting at the book fair with Laura Vinogradova. On the morning of 20 March, Andris Kalnozols will meet with young people at a Leipzig secondary school, and then at 13:00 that same day he will take part in a discussion at the Leipzig fair together with the writer Svens Kuzmins. In the evening at 19:00 both writers are scheduled to present a reading at the art space die naTO, the fourth year in a row that Latvian literature events have been held at this venue. On 21 March at 16:00, a discussion with Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce will be held at the Leipzig Book Fair. On 22 March at 10:00, she will lead a workshop for children. Later that day, Bugavičute-Pēce is scheduled to take part in two further events at the Leipzig Book Fair: a reading at 13:00 and a children’s workshop at 14:30.
After the book fair, authors will continue their book promotion tour in Germany, visiting also Berlin and Hamburg. On 23 March there will be a reading by Andris Kalnozols and Svens Kuzmins in Berlin, and on 26 March Kalnozols and Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce will present a reading in Hamburg.
Latvian National stand (number D305, hall 4) will be managed by Latvian Literature personnel and will also include literary agents Žanete Vēvere-Paskvalīni and Jayde Will. The set-up of the national stand in Leipzig will continue to follow the Latvian literature export campaign #iamintrovert concept featuring illustrations by Reinis Pētersons, with the overall design devised by Jānis Mercs.