Literature Prize of the City of Mainz for young authors
The Literature Prize 2025 goes to Nele Honig and her text "Nordwind". Congratulations on winning 2,500 euros. A further 500 euros each go to the two co-finalists Jannik Koppenhagen and Dara Brexendorf.
Every two years, the state capital of Mainz awards a literature prize for young authors totaling €3,500. The prize is intended to encourage young authors in their writing, promote their development, and offer them the opportunity to introduce themselves to an interested audience.
In a reading on May 6 at the Mainzer Kammerspiele, the three finalists, Dara Brexendorf, Jannik Koppenhagen, and Nele Honig, presented their competition texts. Afterwards, the audience voted for their favorite.
In addition to the audience, the four-member main jury—consisting of the current city writer Annett Gröschner, Mainz's head of cultural affairs Marianne Grosse, cultural journalist Michael Jacobs, and the chair of the LiteraturBüro, Dr. Sigrid Fahrer—decided on the awarding of the prize.
In the end, both the jury members and the audience voted for Nele Honig by a relatively clear majority.
Finalist:inside
Dara Brexendorf, born in 1991. Studied comparative literature and cultural anthropology at JGU Mainz. Then studied at the Literature Institute Hildesheim. Co-editor of the literary magazine "Der Schnipsel." She lives in Kiel. Text: "Your uterus looks like a landscape" (excerpt from a novel)
Jannik Koppenhagen, born in 1993 in Bad Soden. Studied German language and literature and Chinese studies at the University of Freiburg. Then studied literature, philosophy, and cultural anthropology in Jena. Member of the OPEN-OHR project group 2023/24. He lives and works in Mainz. Text: "endezeit"
Nele Honig, born in Greifswald in 1999. Studied comparative literature and theater studies at JGU Mainz. She is currently completing her master's degree in "Theories and Practices of Professional Writing" at the University of Cologne. She writes for various newspapers and magazines. Text: "Nordwind"
About the price
The Cultural Office of the state capital Mainz regularly announces the "Literature Promotion Prize for Young Authors." The award, which is endowed with a total of €3,500, is not tied to any particular literary genre or theme.
Authors who
- are under the age of 35
- can prove a connection to Mainz. This connection is established if the applicant was born in Mainz, has lived there for three years, or is studying or has studied at a university in Mainz.
Award winner from 2025
List of previous award winners
Further information
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Kontakt LiteraturBüro Mainz e.V. für Rheinland-Pfalz
Neutorstraße 1
55116 Mainz