Impossible or Science?! 2026 in Sharjah

Impossible or Science?! is an interactive family show at Expo Centre Sharjah, where science communicator Abdullah Annan takes six acts that look like pure magic and shows the audience the science behind each one. It runs for 90 minutes on Sunday 8 November 2026, with doors at 5pm and the show beginning at 6pm.

The pitch on the ticket page is simple: explore science through illusions, audience participation and exciting discoveries for the whole family. Children are not just spectators here. They are invited to take part and vote on what they think is going on before each reveal.

Who is Abdullah Annan?

Abdullah Annan is the founder and CEO of Science Street, a company that makes science communication content for audiences across Egypt and the wider Arab world. According to his speaker profile at Ithra in Saudi Arabia, his science videos on social media have passed 1.5 billion views, and TikTok named him Best Educational Content Creator in 2021.

He is also an experienced presenter on screen. Annan hosted 310 videos for an Egyptian Ministry of Education science programme on television, and he has led events for the Abu Dhabi Science Festival, National Science Week, Arab Science Week and the Jeddah Science Festival.

Not his first Sharjah show

Sharjah audiences have seen him before. At the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival in April 2025, Annan led a Science Street show in the festival’s main hall. Egyptian state media reported experiments with balloons filled with different gases, coloured flames from metal salts, sodium dropped into water and liquid nitrogen, as well as team challenges for the children. He opened that show with a clear message about safety and not repeating the experiments at home.

What happens in Impossible or Science?!

The show is built around six seemingly impossible acts. Each starts as something that looks like a trick, the kind of moment that makes children gasp or shout out an answer. Then the audience gets a say: is it an illusion, or is it science? After the vote, Annan uncovers the principle that makes the impossible possible.

The organisers do not list the six acts in advance, which keeps the surprises intact. What they do promise is a mix of illusion, participation and discovery, with the message that the greatest wonder lies in understanding how the world around us works. For children who constantly ask “but how?”, that is a satisfying way to spend an evening.

The format suits mixed ages. Younger children will enjoy the spectacle and the chance to vote, while older children and teenagers can try to work out the science before the explanation arrives. Parents may find themselves arguing over the answers too.

Part of a busy November at Expo Centre Sharjah

The show falls during the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, which runs at Expo Centre Sharjah from 4 to 15 November 2026, with Oman as guest of honour. Event enquiries for Impossible or Science?! go through the book fair’s ticketed events team, and the fair’s wider programme includes workshops and activities for children and young adults. If your family is visiting the book fair that weekend, the show slots neatly into a day of browsing and reading.

Know before you go

The entry rules are strict, so they are worth reading carefully.

• Doors close half an hour before the show begins, and no one is admitted after that. With a 6pm start, that means being inside by 5:30pm.
• Every attendee needs a valid ticket. No age limit is listed, so book a ticket for each child.
• Tickets can be rescheduled, but they cannot be refunded or cancelled.
• Bring a copy of your ticket. If it has not arrived, Platinumlist’s help centre can resend it via WhatsApp or email.
• The organising team directs entry and exit, which keeps things calm with many families arriving at once.

Who it suits

This is a family show first and foremost. It is a great fit for curious primary-age children, budding scientists and anyone who loves a magic trick but wants to know the secret. The show is listed among Platinumlist’s Arabic events, so it will feel most natural for Arabic-speaking families and fans of Science Street’s videos. Grandparents bringing grandchildren, or a parent with a group of school friends, will all find something to talk about on the way home.

Getting to Expo Centre Sharjah

Expo Centre Sharjah is on Al Taawun Street in the Al Khalidiya district. By car from Dubai, take Al Ittihad Road towards Al Taawun Street. Bus E307A stops at Sharjah, Al Qasba 1, a short walk away, and taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to find. The venue notes it is not responsible for traffic on surrounding streets, which is worth bearing in mind during book fair week.

Find more ideas for families in our kids’ events guide, explore things to do in Sharjah or browse things to do in November.