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This is the jury for 2026

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The jury for the German Non-Fiction Prize 2026 has been selected. The Akademie Deutscher Sachbuchpreis (Academy of the German Non-Fiction Prize) has appointed the following seven experts from the areas of non-fiction criticism, journalism, science and the book trade to the jury:

• Sibylle Anderl (Die Zeit)
• Maja Brankovic (Wirtschaftswoche)
• Manuela Lenzen (science journalist)
• Pascal Mathéus (“Buchhandlung Wassermann” bookshop, Hamburg-Blankenese), jury spokesperson
• Patricia Rahemipour (Institute for Museum Research, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation)
• Stefan Spiegel (funk / Marmota Maps)
• Katrin Vohland (Natural History Museum Vienna)

The seven jury members will put their heads together to decide which eight non-fiction books will be nominated on 21 April and which title will be the German non-fiction book of the year 2026, awarded in the Small Hall of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg.

The Akademie Deutscher Sachbuchpreis selects a new jury every year. It is possible to serve as a member of the jury more than once.

© Stiftung Buchkultur und Leseförderung

How many books have been submitted by the publishing houses?

A total of 212 titles from 133 German-language publishers are in the race for the best non-fiction book of the year, which is intended to shape current debates and provide indispensable impetus for social discourse. Of these, 105 publishers are based in Germany, 18 in Austria and 10 in Switzerland. 

Each publisher was allowed to submit a maximum of two monographs published or to be published between 30 April 2025 and 21 April 2026, when the shortlist will be announced. In addition, each publisher could recommend up to five further titles from their own programme. This list of recommendations comprises 159 titles, from which the jury may request additional titles.