The 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is under way at Expo Centre Sharjah and runs until Sunday, November 15. Entry is free, and this year’s programme includes about 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events, from author talks and workshops to theatre shows for families.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the fair opened on Wednesday, November 4, under the theme “Made of Stories”. Oman is this year’s Guest of Honour.
Sharjah Book Fair 2026: what to know
- Dates: November 4 to 15, 2026
- Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah, Al Taawun Street, Al Khan area, near Arab Mall
- Entry: free; general visitors do not need to register, but some workshops, sessions and shows require booking
- Theme: “Made of Stories”
- Guest of Honour: Oman
- Guests: 106 writers, artists and thinkers from 25 countries
- Exhibitors: Gulf News reports 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries, while Gulf Today reports 3,212 from 126 countries
- Titles: 1.7 million, according to Gulf Today
- Opening hours: check the official website, sibf.com, before you travel
Getting there: free buses, boats and parking
According to Gulf Today, free buses run daily from Etisalat Metro Station in Dubai and from City Centre Ajman at 9am, 1pm and 5pm. Return buses leave Expo Centre Sharjah at 12pm, 4pm and 9pm.
Free boat services operate daily from Sharjah Aquarium Station and Al Qasba Station, and additional free parking with shuttle buses is available alongside the venue’s own car parks.
The venue is fully accessible for people of determination and has food and drink outlets inside, Gulf News reported.
Events worth planning around
- Thriller Festival (November 7 to 10): the fifth edition, run with Capital Crime London and Thriller Festival New York. Gulf News lists guests including Clare Mackintosh, Karen Dionne, Vaseem Khan, Abir Mukherjee and David Fennell.
- When Memories Sing (November 7): a musical theatre show; booking required.
- Impossible or Science?! (November 8): an interactive family show by Abdullah Annan; booking required.
- Waterland (November 14 and 15): a show on the outdoor stage; booking required.
- Cookery Corner: live demonstrations by chefs including Mohammad Orfali, Jad Youssef, Romy Gill and Xavier Bramble.
- Sharjah International Library Conference (November 7 to 9): organised with the American Library Association for more than 400 library professionals.
Guests, honours and new features
International guests include Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor, Chinese novelist Liu Zhenyun, Filipino historian Ambeth R. Ocampo and Syrian-Canadian author Zoulfa Katouh. Indian actor and author Shenaz Treasurywala is also among the guests, according to Gulf News. Emirati writers taking part include Aisha Sultan and Dr Sultan Al Ameemi.
Moroccan scholar Dr Said Yaktine has been named Cultural Personality of the Year for more than four decades of work on Arabic narrative studies and literary criticism, Gulf Today reported.
Oman’s Guest of Honour delegation has 50 members, including 41 writers and poets, with cultural sessions, children’s workshops and daily music and folk performances.
Two features are new this year. At Poets’ Corner, visitors share a personal story that is turned into a poem in Arabic or English. Future Hands District is an interactive educational city where children explore different professions through hands-on activities.
Tips for visitors
- Book ticketed stage shows and workshops early, as places may be limited.
- Session times for individual authors are listed in the official programme, so check before travelling to see a particular speaker.
- If you plan to drive, the free shuttle from the extra parking areas can save time near the venue.
- Looking for more culture this weekend? See our Dubai Design Week 2026 guide, which runs until November 8.
Sources: Gulf News, Gulf Today
