Grants for Translation and Publication of German Literature from Goethe-Institut

The Translation Funding Programme by the Goethe-Institut is an international initiative operating for 50 years, having funded the publication of roughly 7,000 books in 45 languages worldwide. The main objective of the program is to give international readers access to contemporary German-language fiction, books for children and young adults, non-fiction works, as well as scholarly works in the humanities and social sciences that are of general interest and significant relevance to contemporary social discourse. Funding is provided exclusively for translations of works originally written in German and published in printed form by publishers in German-speaking countries, with the translation required to be made directly from the original German text.

Participation is open to international professional publishers with documented experience in publishing quality literature and established professional distribution channels. Translators or authors cannot apply independently through this program. The program focuses on supporting contemporary authors, while canonical literature is considered only if there are no prior translations or if there is a strong justification for a new edition. Commercial light fiction, crime novels, highly specialized scholarly works (such as doctoral theses), textbooks, reference books, travel guides, and hobby books are ineligible. Specific restrictions apply to works by 20th and 21st-century Austrian authors and contemporary Swiss authors, whose translations are supported through their respective national institutions (BMWKMS and Pro Helvetia).

Financial support is provided as a post-publication reimbursement of a portion of the translator's fee, typically ranging from 40% to 60% of the agreed amount, up to a maximum of 8,000 Euros per book. Grant funds do not cover rights acquisition/licensing, typesetting, editing, or printing costs. A crucial condition for receiving the grant is full settlement between the publisher and the translator: the publisher must pay the translator 100% of the agreed contract fee regardless of the final grant amount provided, submitting written confirmation from the translator upon receipt. The funding commitment from the Goethe-Institut remains valid for three years from the date of contract execution.

Applications must be submitted via the Goethe-Institut online portal in German or English. The call for applications opens three times a year with fixed deadlines on April 15, September 15, and December 1. A key legal requirement is that the book must not go to print prior to signing the funding agreement with the Goethe-Institut, as both print and electronic (eBook) editions must include the organization's logo and official acknowledgment of financial support. Project selection is conducted by an independent jury of five experts based on the literary quality of the original text, the translator's experience, and the applicant publisher's profile.

• Applicants: International professional publishers with documented experience in publishing quality literature and professional distribution channels.
• Applicant Restrictions: Authors and translators are not eligible to apply independently.
• Author Restrictions: Author nationality is not a restriction, except for fiction/children's books by 20th and 21st-century Austrian authors (submitted to BMWKMS) and contemporary Swiss authors (submitted to Pro Helvetia).
• Project Readiness: The book must not go to press prior to signing the grant agreement.

The grant is disbursed as a post-publication reimbursement of a share of translation costs (usually 40–60% of the translator's fee). The maximum funding amount is 8,000 Euros per book title.

• Eligible expenses:
  • Share of labor costs / translator's fee as specified in the signed contract.
• Ineligible expenses:
  • Full (100%) payment of translation costs.
  • Payment of licensing rights, printing, typesetting, or editorial services.
  • Translation of light fiction and crime novels.
  • Translation of highly specialized scholarly works (doctoral/postdoctoral theses), textbooks, reference books, travel guides, cookbooks, sheet music, and yearbooks.
  • Translation of works by 20th and 21st-century Austrian authors (supported by BMWKMS) and contemporary Swiss authors (supported by Pro Helvetia).
  • Translation of foreign-language books into German.

• Translation of works originally written in German and published in print by a publisher in a German-speaking country (translation must be made directly from the original German text).
• Translation of literary fiction, poetry, picture books, comics, and graphic novels for adults, children, and young adults.
• Translation of non-fiction and essays on current social topics relevant to German and international contemporary discourse.
• Translation of scholarly works of general interest and overarching relevance in the fields of humanities and social sciences.
• Translation of individual thematic selections of texts (anthologies).

• Application Periods: Open three times a year for a one-month period with deadlines on April 15, September 15, and December 1 (at 23:59).
• Current Application Windows (2026):
  • August 15 — September 15, 2026: For publications going to press in December 2026 or later (funding decision communicated via email on November 20, 2026).
  • November 01 — December 01, 2026: For publications going to press in March 2027 or later.
• Agreement Signing: The grant agreement must be signed prior to sending the book to press.
• Commitment Validity: The funding commitment remains valid for 3 years from the contract signing date.
• Disbursement: Conducted post-publication, following submission of mandatory deposit copies and confirmation of 100% fee payment to the translator.

1. Register an account on the official Goethe-Institut application portal, selecting the account type "Organisation/enterprise".
2. Fill out the online application form in German or English.
3. Prepare and submit a separate application for each book title (recommending no more than 3 applications per submission deadline).
4. Upload all mandatory supporting documents and submit the application before the deadline (April 15, September 15, or December 1).

• Quality of the Original Work: High literary quality of the work in terms of style, form, and content (assessed by an expert jury of 5 members).
• Translator's Qualifications: Proven experience in translating from German or professional translator training.
• Publisher's Profile: Quality of the publishing program (backlist, current catalogue), quality of previous translations, book design, and established distribution network.
• Relevance and Priority: Priority is given to works by contemporary German authors with few or no previous translations in the target language.
• Relevance of Canonical Literature: Canonical literature is considered only if no previous translation exists or if valid reasons for a new translation are provided.

• Scanned copy of the signed contract between the applicant publisher and the rights holder for acquiring rights.
• Scanned copy of the signed contract between the applicant publisher and the translator specifying the fee.
• Project rationale provided by the publishing house.
• Translator's CV comprising a list of published translations from German, relevant education, professional experience, scholarships, and awards.
• Digital file of the original book (in PDF or Word format).
• Official application form (Application Form PDF, 179 KB).
• Additional for text selections (anthologies): Index of selected texts with original titles and bibliographic data, justification for text selection, and scanned copies of complete material included.

• Signing Contract Prior to Printing: The grant agreement must be signed and returned to the Goethe-Institut strictly before the book goes to press.
• Mandatory Branding: Displaying the Goethe-Institut logo and an official statement acknowledging financial support in both printed and eBook editions.
• Submission of Copies: Sending 1 print copy to the Goethe-Institut headquarters in Munich and additional copies to the local Goethe-Institut branch in the publisher's country.
• Fee Payment Confirmation: Submitting written confirmation from the translator acknowledging receipt of 100% of the agreed translation fee from the publisher.

• Printing Prohibition Prior to Contract Execution: The book must not go to press before the funding agreement has been signed and returned to the Goethe-Institut.
• 100% Translator Fee Payment: The publisher must pay the translator the full contract fee regardless of the final grant amount awarded.
• Mandatory Branding: Both print and electronic (eBook) editions must feature the Goethe-Institut logo and official acknowledgment of financial support.
• Commitment Validity: The organizer's financial commitment remains valid for 3 years from the date specified in the grant agreement.
• Delay Notification: In case of force majeure, delays, or schedule changes regarding publication, the publisher must notify the Goethe-Institut immediately.