Roswitha Prize
ろすうぃたしょう
Established in 1973, the oldest literary award in the German-speaking world exclusively for women. From the 50th edition (2026), eligibility was expanded to female writers living and working in Europe.
German literature awardLiterary award for women
- Established
- 1973
- Organizer
- City of Bad Gandersheim (Stadt Bad Gandersheim)
- Category
- Literature and General Literary Arts
- Selection Method
- Recommendation
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Active
Description
The Roswitha Prize (Roswitha-Preis) was established in 1973 by the City of Bad Gandersheim as a literary award given exclusively to female writers in the German-speaking world. The award is named after Roswitha of Gandersheim (a 10th-century Benedictine nun and one of Germany's earliest female playwrights). In 1998, the current name was established, and the €5,500 prize money (endowment) was set. Awards are given almost every year and announced through the city's official announcements and media reports.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Roswitha Medal (medal) and monetary endowment (current €5,500 set in 1998)
- Cash Prize
- 5,500 EUR
- Roswitha-Medal (medal)
- Honor and public announcement
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selection | Selection committee appointed by the City of Bad Gandersheim | — | City's official announcements and media reports (city website, etc.) |
Selection
Judges
Selection committee appointed by the City of Bad Gandersheim
Announcement
City's official announcements and media reports (city website, etc.)
Criteria
- Recipient must be female (women only)
- Outstanding contributions and achievements to German literature
- Literary value and long-term activity and recognition
Related Awards
- German literature
- List of literary awards honoring women
- List of literary awards
- List of poetry awards
Official Resources
https://www.bad-gandersheim.de/portal/seiten/roswitha-literaturpreis-900000189-23910.htmlPast Winners
Elke Erb
Winner
Olga Martynova
Winner
No winner
Cornelia Funke
Winner
Felicitas Hoppe
Winner
Ruth Klüger
Winner
Julia Franck
Winner
No winner
No winner