Application Deadline:
15 September 2026
About Organisation
The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global network dedicated to promoting German language and international cultural cooperation. It provides cultural and educational programmes that encourage intercultural dialogue, cultural participation and international exchange. Through its network of institutes, cultural societies, reading rooms and language centres, the Goethe-Institut connects people and institutions with contemporary Germany and its culture. Its literature programmes support international exchange and the dissemination of German-language literature around the world. Through translation funding, the organization helps professional publishers make high-quality German-language literary works accessible to readers in other languages and strengthen international literary dialogue.
About the Grant
The Translation Funding Programme provides financial support to professional international publishers seeking to translate books originally written in German and published in printed form by publishers in German-speaking countries. The programme supports contemporary literary and socially relevant works across several genres, including fiction, poetry, picture books, comics, graphic novels, selected non-fiction, essays and scholarly works of general interest. Approved publishers are reimbursed for a portion of the translation costs after the translated book is published. Funding generally covers approximately 40–60% of translation costs, with a maximum grant of €8,000 per book. The programme aims to increase international access to German-language literature.
Who can Apply?
The programme is open to international professional publishers that wish to translate German-language books. Applicants must have documented experience publishing quality literature and maintain professional distribution channels. Translators and authors cannot apply directly for this translation subsidy. The translation must be made directly from the original German text, and the work must have been published in printed form by a publisher in a German-speaking country. The applicant publisher must provide the required rights and translation contracts and demonstrate the quality of its publishing programme and previous translations. The translation must not go to print before the funding agreement has been signed.
How to Apply?
Create an account on the Goethe-Institut application portal using the “Organisation/enterprise” account type. Prepare a separate application for each book, including the signed rights contract, signed translator contract, publisher’s project rationale, translator’s CV and PDF/Word file of the original book. Applications may be submitted in German or English. Complete and submit the online application before the applicable deadline.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 15 September 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
