The incoming editors of the Lessing Yearbook invite submissions for the 2026 issue.

As the official publication of the Lessing Society, the Lessing Yearbook is a double-blind, peer-reviewed journal widely recognized in the international field of Enlightenment Studies.

We seek articles in English or German that explore any aspect of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781), his contemporaries, the historical, intellectual, and cultural contexts of his work, as well as his enduring influence from the eighteenth century to the present.

We also welcome articles that emphasize interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives on the German Enlightenment broadly understood, as well as those that critically engage with innovative theoretical frameworks reflecting the diversity of current scholarly practices and debates. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, literature, philosophy, theology, visual arts, music, media, history of science, and history more broadly.

We thank Carl Niekerk for his expert and innovative work at the helm of the yearbook as sole managing editor from 2016 to 2025. 

Deadline for submission of 2026 Yearbook:

January 15, 2026

Please contact the editors with questions and/or submissions:

Professor Thomas Martinec (Universität Regensburg): thomas.martinec@ur.de

Professor Claudia Nitschke (Durham University): claudia.nitschke@durham.ac.uk

Professor Heidi Schlipphacke (University of Illinois Chicago): heidis@uic.edu

Reviews Editor:

PD Dr. Christopher Meid (Universität Freiburg): christopher.meid@germanistik.uni-freiburg.de