events
Free admission: Participation in all events is free of charge and open to everyone.
Readings during the fair
Traditionally, there is a marathon reading program during every Minipressen fair: The readings by the authors participating in the marathon reading program and the book presentations by the exhibiting publishers will be displayed on screens in the Rheingoldhalle. We will also publish the reading program on this page for download shortly before the start of the fair.
This was the supporting program of the 27th Mini Press Fair 2025
Friday, May 30, 2025, 2
p.m. – Rheingoldhalle, West Foyer:
Opening of the 27th Mainz Mini Press Fair by Marianne Grosse, Head of the Department of Construction, Monument Preservation, and Culture. Musical accompaniment by Manolo and Manuel Lohnes.
7:30 p.m. – Rheingoldhalle, West Foyer:
Presentation of the 23rd V.O. Stomps Prize of the State Capital of Mainz by Marianne Grosse. The main prize is endowed with €3,500 and the sponsorship prize with €1,500, together with a certificate printed in letterpress.
This year's main prize goes to the publishing house "Das Kulturelle Gedächtnis" from Berlin. This year's sponsorship prize goes to the publishing house "Lote 42" from Brazil. We congratulate the winners!
The award ceremony will be accompanied by Luxembourg musician Bartleby Delicate. After the ceremony, we will spend the rest of the evening enjoying a joyful reunion or getting to know each other over a glass of wine from local vineyards.
Saturday, May 31, 2025
3 p.m. – Rheingoldhalle, West Foyer: The highest form of competitive literature, punchy punchlines, wit, and depth. Art is infinite, anything is possible, and you decide who leaves the stage as the winner. With participants from the exhibitors themselves: Minipressen-Edition!
7:30 p.m. - Institute for Media and Education, Petersstr. 3, 55116 Mainz
Hand-picked short films:
As the first feature film festival in Rhineland-Palatinate, FILMZ - Festival of German Cinema has been presenting current German-language productions every year since 2001. We look forward to showing a colorful mix of selected and, in the broadest sense, bibliophile short films from the programs of recent years as part of the Mainz Mini Press Fair.
The venue has a maximum capacity of 50 people!
Sunday, June 1
11 a.m. – Rheingoldhalle, West Foyer:
Independent bookshops in Mainz introduce themselves!
Cardabela, Erlesenes & Büchergilde, and Shakespeare und So… are three of several independent bookstores that enrich Mainz's book scene with their select assortment and personal touch. Which of their books do they particularly like? And how do they respond to the challenges posed by online retail and e-books? Prof. Dr. Gerhard Lauer from the Department of Book Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz will be talking to them about this.
2 p.m. – Rheingoldhalle, West Foyer:
Every book a piece of freedom of expression? What defines a democratic book industry? Unfortunately, so-called "new right-wing" publishers have regained a firm foothold in the book industry in recent years. When Jasmina Kuhnke canceled her participation in the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2021 because she was threatened by right-wingers from Jungeuropa Verlag, there was a great deal of excitement. Other authors also joined in the cancellation and boycotted the book fair. What has been done since then to effectively counter "new right-wing" publishers? What opportunities for politicization does the book industry offer? And how can we set our own effective and progressive content?
Moderator: Paula Blömers (Publishers Against the Right) With: Laila Riedmiller (blog / @notwithoutmybooks), Jonas Engelmann (Ventil Verlag/Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Rhineland-Palatinate) and Inka Bankwitz (BücherFrauen, Rhine-Neckar regional group/Publishers Against the Right).
Special promotions on all days of the fair in the Rheingoldhalle
Children's program from the BDP
All day, Saturday & Sunday - Rheingoldhalle, galleries:
As part of the children's program, all children can design their own letterheads or postcards at the stand of the Rhineland-Palatinate Association of German Scouts. Various techniques are used here, so there are no limits to creativity.
Poetry performance
3 p.m. – Titi Zaadnoordijk exhibition stand, Rheingoldhalle:
Poetry performance with Titi Zaadnoordijk. She whispers for you. Titi from the Netherlands is not only an artist, but also a poet and performer. At the fair, Titi will be showing her artist's books, small posters for good cheer, her colorful linocuts, as well as cards, hangers, and modeling sheets. She will be giving poetry performances every day of the fair at 3 p.m. Titi Zaadnoordijk draws as she writes. Precise strokes, few words, but a lot of expression. She is brutal and demure, funny and touching, and always energetic. With Titi, the content is entertaining, and it's okay to laugh at serious poetry.
Print directly
"Drucken direkt" (Printing Direct) is hosting an event with Bernhard Dorn from "Drucken & Lernen" (Printing & Learning). Machines, tools, and materials related to artistic work with printing and paper will be presented here. Printing with hand presses, especially milk carton printing with linoleum paints—come by and try it yourself!
Open Press Project
Friday to Sunday – Foyer, Rheingoldhalle:
The Open Press Project brings artistic intaglio and relief printing to every studio, kitchen table, outdoor space, or classroom with a 3D-printed mini printing press – and invites visitors to create small monotypes during the fair and take them home with them.
