30^th Leukerbad International Literary Festival

The Festival

On June 21, 2025, we were presented with the “Valais Culture and Economy Award 2025” by State Councilor Christophe Darbellay. In his laudatory speech, he emphasized the importance of cultural events for the economy and highlighted the festival's enduring commitment. In her acceptance speech, festival director Anna Kulp paid tribute to the work of long-time co-director and curator Hans Ruprecht, who programmed his last festival edition in 2025, and officially welcomed Stephan Bader, the new co-director.

Every year, 35 to 40 international authors and scholars take part in the Leukerbad Literary Festival. Most have two events and remain in Leukerbad for the full three days of the Festival—just as the audience does. This is what makes the Leukerbad Festival so special. It is the only destination literary festival in Switzerland. Leukerbad invites you to leave your daily life behind in the valley and to enjoy clear words in the clear mountain air on the banks of the torrential Dala and on the base of the Gemmi.
Nearly a dozen venues are scattered through the village of Leukerbad and are all accessible on foot. The participants and the audience meet in the village square and at readings in a relaxed and open atmosphere.

Beyond the Book

The Leukerbad Literary Festival has long done more than present books. The selectively curated discussions in the ‘Perspectives’ Series address current issues and topics. They initiate discourses and present various literary genres and interface with other arts. These debates do not shy away from other branches of knowledge and broaden our perspectives.

Here you can find out more

Team
Collaborations
Thanks
Impressions
Retrospective
Authors since 1996