Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2026: Where Stories Shape Culture and the Future
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Arab world’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, will return for its 18th edition from 21 to 27 January 2026 at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City.
Over the past 15 years, the Festival has grown into a global cultural platform, welcoming thousands of writers, poets, thinkers, and creative voices from across continents. It brings together literature, ideas, and dialogue, reaching hundreds of thousands of readers and audiences both in person and through live streaming.
At its heart, the Festival is dedicated to nurturing a culture of reading as a joyful, meaningful habit in the UAE and beyond. By offering an equal stage to international and regionally based voices, it plays a vital role in shaping the literary landscape of the region while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
The 2026 theme, “The Stories That Shape a Human-Centric Future,” explores the enduring power of storytelling in a rapidly changing world. Through literature, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and spoken word, the Festival highlights how stories help societies interpret change, preserve identity, and imagine more inclusive futures.
The programme will feature over 200 speakers from more than 40 countries, with daily panel discussions, workshops, masterclasses, family sessions, musical performances, and literary dinners. Alongside the main programme, a strong education initiative will continue to engage students across all seven emirates, encouraging young voices through reading, writing, poetry, and bilingual literary competitions.
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is a celebration of ideas, imagination, and cultural connection — a space where words build bridges, inspire curiosity, and remind us that stories remain the foundation of human culture.
Source: www.mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/november/26-11/the-emirates-airline-festival-of-literature-will-kick-off-its-18th-edition-on-january-21
