Most beautiful books 2026
For 60 years, the Stiftung Buchkunst has been honouring books impress by their outstanding design, concept and craftsmanship. The award-winning titles reflect the high quality of book design in the German-speaking world and demonstrate how closely content, design, materials and craftsmanship are intertwined.
We are excited that several award-winning titles in the 2026 Stiftung Buchkunst competition were produced using materials from peyer cover. These include the books Oskar Fiala und das Prinzip der kleinsten Wirkung with PEYDUR lissé, Meditations in Entropy with DUCHESSE birkenweiß, Reto Crameri – MAL PIXEL MAL with SURBALIN perleffekt as well as the other outstanding publications König Hirsch with Duchesse moosgrün and Suche nach dem Unbestimmten with SURBALIN diamantweiß and NATURELLE COTON aqua.
The Young Book Design Award also highlights the creative power of materials. The project Vulvodynie. Schmerz der Weiblichkeit by Celia Joy Homann features COMTESSE karminrot giving its sensitive subject a strong visual presence right from the cover.
We are particularly proud of the title Was tun, wenn … Kleine Hilfe bei großen Katastrophen. The book was not only honored as one of the 25 Schönsten Deutschen Bücher but also received the Preis der Stiftung Buchkunst 2026. The flexo-bound volume was covered with SURBALIN seda diamantweiß. The uncoated paper with a micro-embossed surface not only feels pleasant to touch but also accentuates the book cover’s design.
These award-winning books impressively demonstrate that great book design emerges when idea, content, design, craftsmanship and material merge into one another.