Festival Programme

A session exploring humanity’s anxiety over the accelerating pace of technological change. How does literature capture moments of confusion and redraw our relationship with the world? Featuring Dr. Hamza Kenawy, Mahdi Hanna, and Mirna El Mahdy.

20 years of an award that has celebrated pivotal works and introduced us to influential figures. Join His Excellency Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Hessa Almehairi, Hoda Barakat, and Margaret Obank in a celebratory session reviewing the award’s impact on Arab and global culture.

In this provocative talk, behavioural scientist Paul Dolan shares insights from his book Beliefism: How to Stop Hating the People We Disagree With, revealing how rigidity fuels division, poor decisions, and conflict.

The LitFest Fringe 2026 is back, celebrating the vibrant talents of young performers, dancers, musicians, poets, and storytellers from across the UAE!

This workshop, led by Safia Alshehi and inspired by her book "You in Chapters", explores self-growth and inner balance. Through open discussion and meditative exercises, participants learn to understand and accept themselves.

Join Emirati author-illustrator Rawan Alyahmadi as she shares Athba’s Gift, a heartwarming story of kindness and self-care.

This session celebrates the journey of Dr Sultan Al Amimi, a writer whose vision embraces poetry, fiction, and short stories. His passion has turned language into a mirror reflecting the Emirati spirit and its transformations, and literature into an extension of life itself, where writing remains his most beautiful path to meaning.

Evil is closer than you think. Ruth Ware, Louise Candlish, and Annabel Kantaria explore the art of modern crime, from slow-burn tension to shocking twists, showing how ordinary streets can hide extraordinary danger.

Step into the magical worlds of Ross MacKenzie, award-winning author of The Nowhere Emporium, for a spellbinding session of live reading, storytelling, and tips on creating unforgettable fantasy adventures.

Tarek El-Ariss, Marjorie Lotfi, and Plestia Alaqad explore exile, memory and identity, revealing how stories can forge human connection in a world growing ever more divided.

Join John Patrick Green, Maitha Al Khayat, Rachel Bright, and Sarah McIntyre for a live illustration showdown. Watch characters come to life, learn top drawing tips, and help decide the ultimate artistic winner!

Join author and educator Liam Kelly, creator of William – The Story Written in My Head, for a session on representation in children’s books. He shares how inclusive stories build empathy, self-belief, and wellbeing, with tips for parents.

A session celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Ibn Battuta Prize for Travel Literature, exploring how this art form has become a cultural bridge connecting East and West, and reinterpreting the world through an Arab humanistic lens, with Poet and thinker Nouri Al-Jarrah, General Director of the Prize, joins Dr Naima Al Hosani, Tim Mackintosh-Smith, and Dr Ahmad Barqawi.

A rare chance to hear Jung Chang reflect on a lifetime of witness and writing, as she revisits Wild Swans and carries her family story — and China’s modern history — into the present with Fly, Wild Swans.

Dive into mystery with bestselling author Eve Wersocki-Morris and discover how to craft gripping plots, clever clues, and unforgettable characters from her Clem Fatel series.

Join Lucy Strange, Montegrappa Writing Prize winner, for a captivating journey through ghostly legends, stormy seas, and richly atmospheric tales from The Ghost of Gosswater and The Island at the Edge of the Night.

Join Kathy Urban for A Tree for Everyone, an interactive storytelling session with games, collaborative art, and a heart warming tale of teamwork and second chances.

Join award-winning duo Sarah McIntyre and Philip Reeve for Adventuremice, a fun-packed session of thrilling quests, clever villains, and tiny heroes with big courage.

The British Council presents a timely conversation with historian Peter Frankopan, exploring Rooted in Resilience, the UAE’s first national study of culture-based climate action. 

​Join Hesa M. Aldahel​ for a hands-on bookbinding workshop. Fold, stitch, and create your own handcrafted notebook. It's the perfect creative pause for stationery lovers, makers, and bookworms alike.