The background for the decision was a debate about the deletion of three jury proposals, said a spokesman for the Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM). Weimer’s decision to remove three left-wing bookstores from the list for the bookstore award caused massive criticism.

“The awarding of the German Bookstore Prize should take place for the first time on March 19, 2026 as part of the Leipzig Book Fair, in a concentrated, dignified ceremony,” said the statement.

“Now the debate about the non-consideration of three jury proposals increasingly threatens to overshadow the actual meaning of the event – ​​namely the award and honor of independent bookstores,” said the statement. In such a context, an appropriate appreciation of the award winners seems “hardly possible”.

Dialogue on freedom of art and freedom of expression announced

Last week, Minister of State for Culture Weimer (non-party) removed three left-wing bookstores from the list for the German Bookstore Prize because of “findings relevant to the protection of the constitution.” It is not publicly known what is going on against the three stores in Berlin, Bremen and Göttingen. Those affected want to go to court.

Despite the cancellation of the event at the Leipzig Book Fair, the award winners should be honored. “The selected bookstores will receive prize money and certificates directly,” said Weimer’s spokesman. The main prizes will be announced separately.

“We will also invite you to a discussion at a later date as part of a public dialogue event about freedom of art and freedom of expression and the importance of state-funded art prizes,” it continued.

The German Bookstore Prize for around 100 particularly committed small bookstores is endowed with prize money of 7,000 to 25,000 euros.