OffSpring Award 2026 – “Echo” – a competition for young writers. With Rasha Khayat and Nellie Thalbach
The OffSpring Award is sponsored by Flossbach von Storch SE. To find out more, visit www.litcologne.de and follow @offspringaward on Instagram
Echoes are all around us – in conversations, memories and digital spaces. They enable us to hear what we have said, thought or done – but differently, from a later time and a new angle. An echo can confirm or contradict, amplify or distort – it is a mirror of our world resonating back to us. For the OffSpring Award 2026 we are looking for texts on the topic of Echo!
Interested young writers (16–26 years old) can submit their texts (maximum 8,000 characters including spaces) by January 4, 2026, to offspringaward@litcologne.de. Our expert jury will select three nominees who will work on their texts in a writing workshop with the professional support of author Rasha Khayat (“I’m Not Coming Back”). On stage at lit.COLOGNE, they will report on the writing workshop and actress Nellie Thalbach will present their texts. The audience will then decide who wins the OffSpring Award 2026! Host: Charleen Florijn
Contributors
Charleen Florijn
Charleen Florijn is a freelance journalist and moderator in Cologne… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.
Rasha Khayat
Rasha Khayat was born in Dortmund in 1978 and spent her childhood in… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.
Nellie Thalbach
Born in Berlin in 1995, Nellie Thalbach is an actress and youngest… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.