From October 31 to November 9, 2025, Gütersloh became a reading city for the fifth time: with around 40 readings and events, the Gütersloh Reading City whetted the appetite for literature. This year, visitors could look forward to a musical-literary afternoon with Katja Riemann and texts by Roger Willemsen, a Low German evening with humorist Friedo Petig and a literary quartet with selected actors from the Gütersloh cultural scene. The celebrity guests also included Ulrike von der Groeben, who read from her book „Freiheit beginnt jetzt“ about life after a television career, actress Ronja Forcher, known from „Der Bergdoktor”, presenter Tamina Kallert and Josi Wismar with her new work „Fractured Fates“. Gütersloh City Library also offered an extensive program for children: From Kamishibai and Lesekrümel for the little ones to various readings, scary stories for Halloween and a writing workshop for the older ones, children are introduced to literature in a variety of ways.

The varied venues for the readings provided the right ambience: In addition to the Gütersloh City Library, the Pink Pinguin ice cream parlor and the Parkhotel, the venues included the Holtkämperei Isselhorst, the Villa Kunterbunt family center, The Butchers, the Apostelkirche and Vordergrund - the space for creativity and encounters.

Reading City Gütersloh was made possible by the support of various partners and sponsors, including the main sponsors Bertelsmann and TERRITORY. This meant that some readings could be attended for a small entrance fee or even free of charge.