Sharjah International Book Fair 2026 in Sharjah

The Sharjah International Book Fair returns to Expo Centre Sharjah in Sharjah for its 45th edition, running for 12 days, Wednesday 4 to Sunday 15 November 2026. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority under the tagline “Made of Stories”, this year’s fair welcomes the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour and brings together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors representing 124 countries.

45 Years of the Sharjah International Book Fair

The fair was founded in 1982 by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, and has grown into a major meeting point for readers, writers, publishers and families from across the region and beyond. Entry for visitors is free, and the fair’s website and app let you register in advance to save time at the doors.

For 2026, “Made of Stories” puts storytelling at the centre of the programme, celebrating the way stories connect people and cultures. The organisers count around 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events across the 12 days, from author sessions to performances, and the activities and workshops programme alone lists 179 hands-on sessions in the halls and lobbies.

Oman as Guest of Honour

The Sultanate of Oman has its own Guest of Honour Pavilion inside Expo Centre Sharjah. Its programme includes 15 cultural sessions, 6 children’s workshops and 20 performances, showcasing Omani literature, heritage and creativity. For visitors from the UAE, it is a close look at the literary and cultural life of a neighbouring country, presented in one place across the 12 days.

Workshops for Children, Teens and Adults

The activities programme leans heavily on making things, and each session has a set date and age group. Examples from the official listings include:

• The Beautiful Mandoos (6 November, ages 15+): build a model of a traditional mandoos chest using more than 40 pieces.
• Al Barjeel Model (13 November, ages 10+): assemble a wooden 3D model of a traditional Sharjah house with its wind tower.
• Wooden Clock Design (14 November, ages 15+): design a clock using colourful, rearrangeable “pixel” cubes.
• Moonlight Aura (14 November, ages 11 to 17): a guided creative wellness session in which you handcraft a glowing moon.
• The Glowing Lamp (15 November, ages 15+): sketch, shape in bronze wire and wire up a decorative lamp to take home.

Other sessions on the programme include “Creative Writing for All Ages” and “The Art of Illustration”. Teenagers aged 11 to 17 also get a run of cooking classes: Ube Drink on 7 November shows how to make a chilled purple-yam drink, Transparent Cake on 8 November covers layering and presentation, and Lemon Ice Cream Trend on 15 November teaches a smooth, balanced lemon ice cream.

On opening day, the programme lists Mr Muffin & Madame Cherry and The Duo Ostrich performing in the halls and lobbies with no booking required, while the Future Hands District in Hall 7 runs sessions that afternoon booked through an external website. Because each workshop runs on one specific day, picking the sessions first and building a visit around them works best.

Conferences for Publishers and Librarians

Two professional gatherings frame the public fair. The Publishers Conference takes place on 1–3 November 2026, just before the doors open, and brings together publishers, editors and agents shaping the future of publishing. The Sharjah International Library Conference follows on 7–9 November 2026, gathering library specialists from around the world during the fair itself.

Getting to Expo Centre Sharjah

Expo Centre Sharjah sits in the Al Khan area on Al Taawun Street, near Arab Mall, and hosts the whole fair, from the publishers’ stands to the Oman pavilion and the workshop spaces such as Hall 7. Sharjah International Airport is around 20 minutes away.

For 2026, the Sharjah Book Authority has announced free shuttle buses and expanded parking for visitors. At the 2025 edition, free shuttles ran from Al Rashidiya Bus Station in Dubai and City Centre Ajman, and free boats linked Sharjah Aquarium and Al Qasba with the Expo Centre; the 2026 routes and timetable are published by the Sharjah Book Authority. Schools can request group visits through a reservation form on the fair’s website, and general questions go to 800 BOOKS (26657) or info@sibf.com.

Who the Fair Suits

The Sharjah International Book Fair works for every kind of reader. Families can mix browsing with a children’s workshop or a show in the lobbies, teenagers have their own craft and cooking sessions, and adult readers can spend hours among the stands of more than 2,600 publishers and exhibitors. Publishing and library professionals have the two conferences running alongside.

If you would like to be part of the fair rather than a visitor, see our listing to volunteer at the Sharjah International Book Fair. For more cultural events, browse our art and culture page, our guide to things to do in Sharjah, and the full calendar of things to do in November.