35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair to take place in September

The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will take place from September 13 to 18 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) with several exciting new additions.

Under the patronage of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism, will organise the latest edition under the theme of "Turn the Page, Read the World".

The programme will feature around 1,500 events aligned with the UAE’s Year of Family aspirations, and bring together exhibitors from 95 countries alongside distinguished writers, thinkers, and academics from around the world. 

This year's programme is organised around three main themes: global culture and civilisational dialogue, innovation and the creation of the future, and the arts and live cultural experiences.

In a first for the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, a special ceremony will open the event, exploring the UAE’s cultural narrative with music and patriotic songs and will feature a theatrical performance inspired by Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad Al-Farahidi, the Focus Personality of this year's edition.

There will also be a wide-ranging programme of cultural and knowledge-based events, alongside dedicated educational and creative programmes for children and young adults.

A professional programme will feature a specialised conference exploring emerging trends in the publishing industry.

The fair will also launch a new programme, "Poetry Nights", featuring a rich blend of poetry readings, literary conversations, and critical discussions with some of the Arab world's most distinguished poets.

In keeping with a long-standing tradition, the fair will host the 2026 Sheikh Zayed Book Award ceremony, honouring this year's laureates and marking the award's achievements over the past two decades.

Under patronage of UAE President, 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair to take place in September#WamNews https://t.co/7JmybEJBpO pic.twitter.com/dx8j2ySj3X

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) August 19, 2026