Sharjah, UAE – The 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) opens today, 4 November, at Expo Centre Sharjah, bringing together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries and around 1.7 million titles under the theme “Made of Stories”. The fair runs until 15 November.
SIBF 2026 at a glance
- Dates: 4–15 November 2026
- Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah
- Organiser: Sharjah Book Authority
- Events: 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events with 106 guests from 25 countries
- Guest of Honour: Oman, with 50 guests including 41 writers and poets
- Cultural Personality of the Year: Moroccan scholar Dr Said Yaktine
New this year
- Poets’ Corner – visitors’ personal stories turned into poems in Arabic or English
- Future Hands District – an interactive city where children explore professions
Highlights
- Thriller Festival (7–10 Nov) with Capital Crime London and Thriller Festival New York
- Sharjah International Library Conference (7–9 Nov) with the American Library Association
- Family shows When Memories Sing (7 Nov), Impossible or Science?! (8 Nov) and Waterland (14–15 Nov)
- Cookery Corner with Arab and international chefs
- Authors including Nnedi Okorafor, Clare Mackintosh, Liu Zhenyun and Saud Alsanousi
Getting there
- Free buses from Etisalat Metro Station (Dubai) and City Centre Ajman at 9am, 1pm and 5pm; return at 12pm, 4pm and 9pm
- Free boats from Sharjah Aquarium Station and Al Qasba Station
- Extra free parking with shuttle buses
Source: Gulf Today
