When does the reading with Serhij Zhadan take place?

The event takes place on Monday, November 9, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

Where does the event take place?

The venue is the bookstore Bücherwurm at Maximilianstraße 4, 93047 Regensburg.

How much does admission cost?

The regular admission price is 14 euros. Students and pupils receive tickets for 10 euros.

In which language does Serhij Zhadan read?

Serhij Zhadan reads in Ukrainian. The event is moderated by Evgenia Lopata and translated into German.

Is there a discussion with the author afterwards?

Yes. After the reading, there will be a discussion about humanity in war, literature, and the work of a writer under wartime conditions. The audience can ask questions.

Where are tickets available?

Tickets are available through the bookstore Bücherwurm. Additionally, students and staff of the University of Regensburg are required to register via the event registration form.

Serhij Zhadan reads in Regensburg about Humanity, War and the Power of Literature

Name: Serhij Zhadan Reading and Discussion on Humanity in War
Start: 2026-11-09T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-09T20:30:00+01:00
Location: Buchhandlung Bücherwurm

Serhij Zhadan in Regensburg: Literature between War Experience and Humanity

On Monday, November 9, 2026, the Regensburg audience will meet the Ukrainian writer, poet, musician, and peace prize winner Serhij Zhadan. In the bookstore Bücherwurm, a reading will be combined with a subsequent discussion about the limits of humanity in war, literary testimony, and the responsibility of language in times of violence.

A Voice of Ukrainian Contemporary Literature

Serhij Zhadan, born in 1974 in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, is one of the defining figures of the Ukrainian literature and cultural scene. He studied German studies and wrote his doctorate on Ukrainian futurism. His work includes poetry, prose, translations, and musical works. In German, his works include The Invention of Jazz in Donbass, Mesopotamia, Internat, and Heaven over Kharkiv.

For his literary work, Zhadan has received numerous awards, including the Bridge-Berlin Prize, the Jan Michalski Literature Prize, the Leipzig Book Fair Prize for the translation of Internat, and in 2022, the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. His texts combine poetic linguistic art with political alertness and an urgent closeness to the people whose lives are shaped by war.

Reading, Translation, and Discussion

The evening begins with excerpts from current books and poems. Zhadan reads in Ukrainian; the German translation accompanies the event. Moderation and translation will be provided by Evgenia Lopata. This creates a reading atmosphere where the sound, rhythm, and meaning of the original language become directly experienceable.

In the subsequent discussion, the central question is what compassion under fire means. Zhadan speaks as a writer, musician, and direct observer of the war about the work on texts, cultural responsibility, and the possibilities of literature to make human experience visible. The audience will have the opportunity to ask their own questions and engage in conversation with the author.

Literature as Testimony and Contemporary Art

Zhadan does not write a detached chronicle of the war. His narratives arise from the tension between personal experience, historical memory, and the attempt to preserve human dignity in a state of emergency. The literary quality of his texts lies precisely in this: they combine documentary sharpness with poetic condensation and make the cultural discourse about Ukraine tangible as a living author encounter.

Conclusion: A Literary Experience with High Relevance

The event at Bücherwurm promises a focused evening with reading, discussion, and an immediate insight into Ukrainian contemporary literature. Those who experience Serhij Zhadan live will encounter a distinctive voice between poetry, political reflection, and lived solidarity. Literature enthusiasts should not miss this author encounter in Regensburg.