Call for Applications for the 2026–2027 Academic Year
The call for applications is open to translators working with Eastern European languages. The aim of the Fellowship is to overcome deficits and asymmetries in the exchange of ideas and the reception of scholarly literature that result from the division of Europe in the 20th century. Therefore, the program supports translations of canonical texts, as well as key contemporary works in the humanities, social sciences, and cultural studies.
The texts must be translated from an Eastern to a Western European language, a Western to an Eastern European language, or between two Eastern European languages. Special emphasis is put on translations of relevant works written by Eastern European authors and/or by female scholars. A thematic relation to one of the research fields of the IWM is welcomed.
Please note that fiction and poetry will not be accepted.
Conditions
The selected candidates will be invited to spend a term of three consecutive months at the IWM in Vienna between September 2026 and June 2027 in order to pursue their translation projects as Paul Celan Visiting Fellows.
Paul Celan Visiting Fellows will receive a stipend of EUR 3,300 per month. From the stipend, visiting fellows are responsible for covering all living expenses during their research term, including travel to and from Vienna, accommodation costs, health insurance, utilities, local transport, telecommunications, etc., as well as research costs (i.e. for literature, conference fees).
Fellowships start on the first day of the first month and end on the last day of the last month of the fellowship period.
The IWM provides visiting fellows with office space, internet access, in-house research facilities, and administrative services, all free of charge. The visiting fellows will join the IWM community of scholars and are invited to participate in the activities of the Institute.
Eligibility
Candidates for the Paul Celan Fellowships for Translators must work on translations of canonical texts, as well as key contemporary works in the humanities, social sciences, and cultural studies. The texts must be translated from an Eastern to a Western European language, a Western to an Eastern European language, or between two Eastern European languages. A contract or a letter of intent from a publisher is required.
We do not accept multiple fellowship applications from the same candidate within the same academic year. Candidates who have previously received a resident IWM fellowship must wait two academic years before applying for another fellowship. Recipients of a specific IWM fellowship cannot reapply for the same program.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the online application form, which is accessible by clicking on the “Apply” button below. We will not consider applications sent via email.
Required materials:
A brief letter of motivation that addresses how the project would benefit from time at the IWM, its connection to the IWM’s mission and research, and concrete research/writing goals during the fellowship.
- A project description of max. 550 characters incl. spaces
- A project proposal of max. 6,000 characters incl. spaces
- A curriculum vitae with a bibliography of translations and other relevant publications
- A contract or a letter of intent from a publisher
- Proof that the translator/publisher holds the rights to the translation and its publication (or has an option on them)
All application materials must be in English.
Important! Attached documents must be combined into a single PDF, as the online submission form only allows for one attachment. File names of attachments must use Latin characters only.
Application Deadline: Friday, 16 January 2026, 23:59 CET
Evaluation and Selection Procedures
Applications that meet the formal and thematic criteria of the call will be evaluated, and the finalists will be selected by a jury of experts. Applicants will be notified of the jury’s decision via email by 30 April 2026. The jury is not required to publicly justify its decisions, nor to provide applicants with individual feedback on their applications.
Cooperation Partner
In cooperation with S. Fischer Stiftung.
Paul Celan (1920–1970) was a Romanian poet and translator. He was born into a Jewish family as Paul Antschel, before changing his name to Paul Celan. While his parents were deported and eventually died in Nazi labor camps, Celan himself was interned for eighteen months before escaping to the Red Army. He is regarded as one of the most important German-language poets of the post-World War II era.
