The 48th Solothurn Literary Days bring together Swiss and foreign authors, including around ten from French-speaking Switzerland. Until Sunday, readings and debates take over the old town, emphasizing autofiction, the literary treatment of death and global politics.
Among the highlights of this 48th edition of the Solothurn Literary Days, Lukas Bärfuss will present his new book ‘Königin der Nacht’ (Queen of the Night), an intimate story where he tries to get closer to a mother “without education and without perspectives” refusing her maternal role. The Bernese writer explores family and social fault lines with the radicalism that marks his work.
The French-speaking generation is notably embodied by Jonas Sollberger. His first novel ‘Viens Elie’, published by Editions de Minuit, tells of the desperate quest of a young man, on the eve of his military recruitment. For hours, Elie searches for Moses, his bird which escaped into the forest. With this short novel, written with a minimum of punctuation, the young author from Biel was praised for his sensitivity and his formal mastery.
>> Listen to Jonas Sollberger on the show Quartier livre:
Among the French-speaking authors selected this year in Solothurn, we can cite Silvia Ricci Lempen, Adrienne Barman, Fabienne Radi and Thierry Raboud. Without forgetting Sibylle Bolli, Claire May and Fabian Menor. As for first novels, we find Camille Leyvraz and Olivier Vonlanthen.
Literary prizes
Since 2012, the Federal Office of Culture has awarded the Swiss Literature Prizes each year. Among the authors awarded in 2026, we find Martina Clavadetscher, Begoña Feijoo Fariña, Asa Hendry, Jonas Lüscher, and Nora Osagiobare. On the French side, ‘Calcaire’ by Antoine Rubin and ‘Me silence’ by Sandro Marcacci were awarded prizes.
The Swiss Grand Prix for Literature goes to Corinne Desarzens, author of around twenty novels, short stories and travel stories. The jurors praised his virtuosity and his ability to transform the details of everyday life.
>> To discover, the portrait of Corinne Desarzens:
The Special Translation Prize goes to Vaudois Christian Viredaz for his entire career. Journalist, literary critic and poet, he introduced numerous Ticino and Italian authors to the French-speaking public and translated German-speaking writers.
>> To discover, the portrait of Christian Viredaz:
All of these prizes will be awarded on Friday evening in Solothurn as part of the Literary Days.
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The 48th Solothurn Literary Days, from May 15 to 17.
The Quartier livre show will be broadcast live from the Solothurn Literary Days on Saturday May 16 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. with the following guests: Leonie Achtnich, director of the Swiss Literary Institute, Rebecca Gisler and Eugène, writers and mentors, as well as Claudia Souto Cuello, writer and 3rd year student at the Swiss Literary Institute.
