Every November, Sharjah turns into a city of readers. The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is the emirate’s biggest annual cultural event and one of the busiest book fairs in the world, and the 45th edition runs from 4 to 15 November 2026 at Expo Centre Sharjah, according to the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA). Here are the confirmed dates, the 2026 Guest of Honour, what the programme includes, last year’s figures, and what to check before you go. An Arabic version is available: معرض الشارقة الدولي للكتاب 2026.
SIBF 2026 at a glance
- Dates: 4–15 November 2026 (12 days).
- Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah.
- Organiser: Sharjah Book Authority, chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi.
- Guest of Honour: the Sultanate of Oman.
- Related professional events listed on the official visitor page: the Publishers Conference (1–3 November 2026) and the ALA/SIBF Library Conference (7–9 November 2026).
Oman as Guest of Honour
The SBA says Oman’s programme will showcase its heritage and its contemporary cultural, literary and artistic life, and introduce visitors to Omani writers, thinkers and creatives. Each year the Guest of Honour programme gives the fair a different country’s literature and arts to present.
What the programme includes
The SBA announcement lists:
- Discussions with authors and thinkers, and panel sessions.
- Book signings and poetry evenings.
- Knowledge and creative workshops.
- Dedicated activities for children and young adults.
- Specialised events for people working in publishing, translation and libraries.
For most visitors, that makes the fair a place to buy books directly and to meet the authors behind them. The SBA has not published a full 2026 session timetable in the sources we reviewed, so check the official site for listings as they are released.
What last year’s fair looked like (44th edition, 2025)
Khaleej Times reported these figures after the 2025 fair closed. They describe the previous edition, not 2026:
- 1,400,730 visitors from 206 countries over 12 days.
- 2,350 publishers and exhibitors from 118 countries, under the theme “Between You and a Book”.
- More than 125,890 school students took part in dedicated educational, literary and cultural activities.
- 87,674 visitors used the marine transport service from Al Qasba and the Sharjah Aquarium.
- Sharjah was described as the world’s largest marketplace for buying and selling publishing rights for the fifth consecutive year. At the two-day Sharjah Publishers Conference, 1,599 publishers from 116 countries held 3,321 rights meetings.
Why Sharjah and books?
UNESCO named Sharjah World Book Capital for 2019. It said the application stood out for its “innovative, comprehensive and inclusive” approach, with community-focused activity that included the emirate’s large migrant population. The book fair is the most visible expression of that reading culture each year. See UNESCO’s announcement.
Planning your visit
- Confirm daily opening hours and entry arrangements on the official site. We did not find a 2026 timetable or ticketing policy in an official publication, so we do not state one. Workshops and special sessions may have their own registration.
- Check transport options. In 2025 the fair offered marine transport from Al Qasba and the Sharjah Aquarium. Whether the same service runs in 2026 is not confirmed in the sources we reviewed. Our Al Qasba guide explains what else is there if you arrive early.
- Plan around crowds. With 1.4 million visitors last year, expect busy periods. Peak times are not published, so go early or check the programme for your sessions.
- Bring children. The SBA lists activities for children and young adults. Confirm age ranges and session times on the day.
- Pair it with a museum. Many visitors add another cultural stop to a fair day; see our Sharjah museums guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sharjah International Book Fair 2026?
4–15 November 2026 at Expo Centre Sharjah, according to the Sharjah Book Authority.
Who is the Guest of Honour in 2026?
The Sultanate of Oman.
Is entry to the Sharjah Book Fair free?
We could not confirm 2026 entry terms from an official publication. Check the SIBF visitor page before you go.
Which edition is it?
The 45th edition.
General information only. Event details can change; confirm dates, hours and ticketing with the Sharjah Book Authority. Information checked 2 October 2026.