Präauer, born in Linz in 1979, will serve as Mainzer Stadtschreiberin for 2027, with the award ceremony scheduled for April 2027. The prize includes a year‑long residence in the Stadtschreiberwohnung in Mainz’s historic centre and the opportunity to produce a film with ZDF and 3sat on a topic of her choosing.
The jury praised her “stylistic sovereignty” and “unmistakable tone,” noting how she “tells vividly and richly across multiple genres for a broad audience.” They highlighted her treatment of contemporary themes such as identity, belonging and memory, and her recent essay “Nie mehr weinen.”
Präauer’s literary career began with her debut novel Für den Herrscher aus Übersee, which earned the 2012 ZDF‑Aspekte Literature Prize. Subsequent honours include the 2017 Erich‑Fried Prize, the 2024 Bremer Literaturpreis for Kochen im falschen Jahrhundert, and the 2025 City of Vienna Literature Prize, along with nominations for the Bachmann, German, Bavarian and Austrian Book Prizes.
She has held the Mainzer Poetikdozentur in 2017 and guest professorships at FU Berlin, the University of Zurich and several American universities. Her oeuvre spans novels, essays, philosophical columns and theatrical pieces. Her forthcoming novel Eine Liebe, zehn Tage will be released in early 2027.