Cultural Minister Wolfram Weimer announced that the award ceremony for the German Booksellers’ Prize will be cancelled. He said the controversy surrounding the exclusion of three booksellers – whose names were suggested by the jury – has begun to eclipse the event’s real purpose of recognising and celebrating independent booksellers. In such a climate, he argued, a “proper tribute” to the recipients would be almost impossible.
“We are cancelling this year’s Booksellers’ Prize event on 19 March 2026” the minister’s spokesperson said. The selected booksellers will receive their prize money and certificates directly, and the announcement of the main prizes will be made separately. At a later date, the minister will invite the public to a dialogue about artistic and freedom‑of‑expression issues and the role of state‑funded art prizes.
Weimer’s justification for excluding the three booksellers was that he had been told by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution that there were “constitutional‑protection‑relevant findings”. The minister, however, was apparently not informed of the content of those findings. The decision was met with sharp criticism within the cultural community.