Festival Programme

A compassionate, eye-opening exploration of how unseen narcissistic family dynamics quietly shape identity, self-worth and reality, and how to begin reclaiming your story.

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Bring along pre-loved manga you’ve enjoyed — or titles ready for a new home — and swap them for something new to discover. It’s a fun, easy way to refresh your reading pile, share favourites, and read-uce, re-read, and recycle.

HE Abdulaziz Almusallam explores kharārīf -traditional folk tales born from oral storytelling- examining their mythical creatures, social meanings, and role as tools of moral guidance. The session questions whether folk narratives have vanished in modern times, or evolved to adapt to a changing cultural landscape.

What’s in a name? Anonyms is a lively, funny, and poignant live conversation exploring the stories our names tell. Guests and audience share questions, write, and reflect on the meanings behind their names.

Celebrate Burns Nicht wi three braw Scottish poets bringin the Bard’s words tae life in Scots, Gaelic, English & Arabic, pairin verse wi drams frae the distilleries whaur the poems were born.

Experience Fresh Air, Fresh Lyrics, a lively night of the UAE's best poetry and spoken word. Local voices and special international guests deliver soulful, clever, and unforgettable performances.

Join music producer Brent Shuttleworth and poet Carlos Andrés Gómez for an interactive evening of poetry and music, where the audience becomes the artist.

Twenty years after Mortal Engines rewrote the rules of YA adventure, join Philip Reeve to explore its origins the unforgettable steampunk world. A must for lifelong fans and new readers alike.

Write from the image, not the blank page. In this collaborative workshop, writers respond to live character art inside a shared fantasy dungeon world, creating lore and story for a game (and character) that never existed.

Join Chef Asma Khan, star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table, for A Taste of India. While Khan shares her story, guests enjoy a six-course menu where each dish represents one of the six seasons of Bengal.

A nostalgic evening celebrating the timeless legacy of the Star of the Orient, Umm Kalthoum, where sound and imagery intertwine to revive the spirit of a golden era of Arabic music, brought to life with creative flair on the festival stage.

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Join Emmy Award-winner Vir Das for a one-night-only candid conversation about The Outsider, his sharp, funny memoir of identity, reinvention, and a life lived across continents, contradictions, and the global comedy stage.

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Start your day feeling grounded, relaxed, and ready for what’s ahead at Emirates LitFest.

Join writer-illustrator Sharon King-Chai for Hello Sun, an interactive sensory play session for children under four, full of colour, sound, and imaginative fun for little ones and their families.

Join award-winning novelist Jalal Barjas, winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, in a workshop dedicated to evaluating your manuscript drafts. Constructive feedback will help you transform your ideas into a mature novel worthy of publication.

Thousands of stories hide in the corners of homes. How has the house appeared in literature and human memory? In a delicate conversation, Dr Shahla Ujayli, and Omer Taher take us on a journey that pierces through walls toward the light.

Learn how BAFTA-winning filmmakers Greg and Myles McLeod craft unforgettable animated worlds, from character design to storyboarding and style, in this workshop for aspiring animators and creative storytellers.