Heinrich von Kleist Society

The Heinrich von Kleist Society (Heinrich-von-Kleist-Gesellschaft) is a German organization that awards the Kleist-Preis. According to its homepage, the 2026 Kleist-Preis goes to Thomas Melle, with the award ceremony planned for 22 November at the Deutsches Theater Berlin. The publisher Heinrich von Berenberg, chosen as a trustee by the society's jury, selected Melle as the prize winner. The prize money for 2026 is 30,000 EUR for the first time, increased thanks to Stefan von Holtzbrinck's support ahead of the anniversary year marking Kleist's 250th birthday in 2027. The society also plans to celebrate Kleist's 250th birthday in 2027 and publishes a newsletter.

The Heinrich von Kleist Society's homepage states that the 2026 Kleist-Preis goes to Thomas Melle, born in Bonn in 1975, a novelist and playwright. The award ceremony is planned for 22 November during a matinée at the Deutsches Theater Berlin. Following the tradition of the Kleist-Preis, the publisher Heinrich von Berenberg, chosen as a trustee by the society's jury, determined Thomas Melle as the prize winner. Thanks to Stefan von Holtzbrinck's generous and far-sighted commitment, the prize money is significantly increased for the upcoming anniversary year of Kleist's 250th birthday in 2027; the prize money in 2026 is 30,000 EUR for the first time. The society also notes that in 2027 it will celebrate the 250th birthday of Heinrich von Kleist, who was born in 1777 in Frankfurt/Oder, and it publishes a newsletter (fifteenth issue, 20 April 2026).

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