Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2026 to Highlight Don Quixote and Al Farahidi

The 35th staging of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has begun revealing key parts of its line-up on its website, with more authors, guests, and speakers to be announced. Taking place from September 13 to 18 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the event was postponed from its original April 11 to 20 dates. Organisers, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, stated that the move followed consultations with publishers, international partners, and UAE authorities regarding travel, overseas participation, and publishing logistics.

This rescheduling also pushed back the ceremony for the 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award, which will now be held during the fair, with the exact date to be announced soon. The fair will mark its anniversary on September 13 with Thirty-Five Years Forward: The Making of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, tracing three and a half decades of the event's growth as a regional and international publishing platform.

Eighth-century Arab polymath Al Khalil ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi has been designated the fair’s Focus Personality. Authors, scholars, and poets will examine his life and legacy across a series of discussions. Sessions include Al Khalil Al Farahidi and the First Arabic Dictionary on September 14, and Al Farahidi and the Music of Arabic Poetry on September 16, which explores his development of Arabic prosody.

Miguel de Cervantes's 1605 novel Don Quixote has been selected as the Book of the World. The foundational work of the modern novel will be explored in events such as Cervantes and the Birth of the Modern Novel on September 14 and How the Arab World Read Don Quixote on September 16.

The Balkans have been designated Guest of Honour, featuring sessions examining the literary and cultural history of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Additionally, Arabic music will feature prominently through performances and discussions, including Modern Poems that Shaped Arabic Music on September 14, focusing on poetry associated with Umm Kulthum, Mohammed Abdel Wahab, and Fairuz, as well as a session on Abdel Halim Hafez.

Other highlights include Cafe Riche: How a Cairo Landmark Where Arab Writers Made History on September 16, and ChatGPT: Authors’ Experiences, which considers how artificial intelligence is changing the way some writers think, plan, and draft their work. Algerian novelist Said Khatibi, recipient of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction for Swimming Against the Tide, will attend on September 18 for From Recognition to Readership. Other featured participants include Egyptian novelist Ashraf Elashmawy, Moroccan researcher Mustapha Rajouane, and Lebanese actress and author Zeinah Makki.

Beyond its public programme, which is free to attend upon online registration, the book fair serves as a vital meeting point for the publishing industry, bringing together trade professionals to discuss industry trends and regional market challenges.