Vinschger Literaturtage

A literary festival in the heart of the Vinschgau Valley

The Vinschger Literaturtage is a literary event held in Lasa/Laas and the surrounding villages of the Vinschgau Valley, in the province of Bolzano, in the heart of South Tyrol. The festival was born and has grown in the shadow of the prestigious Franz-Tumler-Literaturpreis, the European literary award dedicated to debut novels in the German language, with which it shares venues, organizers, and its core mission.

The hallmark of the Literaturtage is its biennial rhythm: the festival takes place in the years when the Franz-Tumler-Literaturpreis is not awarded, alternating with it. In this way, Lasa keeps a constant literary presence alive year after year, hosting the award ceremony in "odd" years and the widespread days dedicated to reading and meeting authors in "even" years.

A festival spread across libraries, churches, and farmsteads

The Vinschger Literaturtage is not concentrated in a single location but is spread over several weeks and various venues in the municipality of Lasa and the valley. Spaces that have hosted readings, matinées, and conversations include the Lasa Library, the Markuskirche (St. Mark's Church), the Josefshaus, the Badlerhof campsite, the Rimpfhof farm in Allitz, and the Schlandersburg Library in Silandro. This itinerant dimension transforms the villages of the Vinschgau Valley into a widespread stage for contemporary literature.

The typical program weaves together author readings, morning matinées accompanied by music, meetings with local poets, readings in the Vinschgau dialect, and philosophical conversations. Recent editions have featured winners of the Franz-Tumler-Literaturpreis, such as Anna Felnhofer and Tine Melzer, who were invited to read from their novels and engage with the local public.

Literature and the territory

The Vinschger Literaturtage are organized by the Lasa Bildungsausschuss (Education Committee) together with the municipality, with the support of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano and in connection with the cultural network linked to the Tumler Prize. The festival promotes German-language literature in the Alpine region while rooting its meetings in the landscape and traditions of the Vinschgau Valley, land of the famous Lasa marble.

For the public, it is an opportunity to approach established and debut authors in an intimate, non-commercial setting, far from the scale of large festivals, where the direct relationship between writer and reader remains at the heart of the experience.

The 2026 edition

The 2026 edition of the Vinschger Literaturtage is confirmed for autumn 2026 in Lasa. The program will feature a writing and reading residency dedicated to Christina König, winner of the 2025 Franz-Tumler-Literaturpreis for her debut novel Alles, was du wolltest. At the moment, the exact dates and the full program for the 2026 edition have not yet been published by the organizers.