On Sunday, 22 October 2023, Salman Rushdie received the 2023 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. The laudatory speech was held by Daniel Kehlmann.

On Sunday, 23 October 2022, the Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2022 for his artistic and humanitarian work. The laudatory speech was held by Sasha Marianna Salzmann.

In her novels and films, Tsitsi Dangarembga reflects the difficult relationship between tradition and modernity by using the experiences of the people of Zimbabwe. On Sunday, 24 October, she will receive the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2021 for her creative work and social engagement. The laudation will be given by Auma Obama.

The question of how social justice can be promoted and achieved for the individual in a society characterizes the thinking of the economic philosopher Amartya Sen, who was honored with the Peace Prize on October 18, 2020 in Frankfurt's Paulskirche. The laudation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was read by actor Burghart Klaußner.

The Brazilian Peace Prize winner of 2019, Sebastião Salgado: A visual artist who calls for social justice and peace with his photographs and gives urgency to the worldwide debate on nature and climate protection.

Max Tau was forced to flee Germany in 1938. But in his Norwegian exile he stands up for reconciliation and peace, also with the idea to found a peace library. He was the first to receive the Peace Prize in 1950.

In front of the ruins of the Frankfurt Römer: Albert Schweitzer, 1951 award winner and living in Lambarene (Africa), has always refused to be ingratiated with the Nazis. After the war, in the hope that humanity would create a world-affirming culture, he advocates a unilateral disarmament of the West.

1995 the Orientalist Annemarie Schimmel receives the Peace Prize. In the run-up to the award, there are protests because her statements about the fatwa against Salman Rushdie are misunderstood. While German President Roman Herzog warns against prejudices of any kind in the Paulskirche, there is a demonstration outside.