Guide to Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2026
The start of the year in Dubai is always exciting, but nothing thrills avid readers more than the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2026. Get ready to turn the page on its 18th edition, where celebrated authors, rising voices and passionate readers come together. Let’s explore the dates, venues, authors and ticket details for this literary celebration.
About the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2026
The 18th edition of the Emirates Literature Festival brings the magic of storytelling to Dubai, sparking imagination and celebrating culture. Packed with workshops, debates, performances and panels featuring renowned local and international authors, it remains one of Dubai’s biggest annual events and festivals.
The Emirates LitFest has been captivating audiences since 2009, becoming a highlight of Dubai’s cultural calendar. Designed to inspire a love for reading and writing, it features workshops for adults and children, interactive discussions, family activities, musical performances, special dinners and plenty more for literature enthusiasts.
Emirates Lit Fest 2026 Dates and Locations
The Emirates Literature Festival Dubai will take place at the InterContinental in Festival City from Wednesday, 21st January to Tuesday, 27th January 2026.
Speakers at the Dubai Emirates Literature Festival
The Emirates Literature Festival brings together local, regional and international authors, poets, thinkers, activists and icons.
Some of the big names attending c Hughes, Ali Al Mazmi, Saud Al Sanousi, Ruth Ware and others.
Apart from discussions, performances and workshops, book launches and award ceremonies will showcase talent.
Emirates Literature Festival Programme for 2026
The Emirates Literature Festival’s programme has five broad categories. Each category has its own series of events across the 7-day festival.
Individuals looking to attend the festival can look out for either of these categories and select the event of their interest. They can also head to the speakers and performers page and look out for their favourite author/poet and the event they’re a part of.
Let’s look at the five events to be held at the Emirates Lit Fest 2026 and their highlights.
CONVERSATIONS
As the name suggests, Conversations in Emirates LitFest feature thought-provoking discussions with authors about their topics of expertise.
Events of interest include:
- Dr Abdullah Alkadi: The Way of the Prophets: A thought-provoking session centred on The Way of the Prophets, exploring ancient Arabian routes, the Hijrah journey and their lasting spiritual and cultural significance through history and photography.
- 25th January, 03:00 pm to 04:00 pm
- ‘Family Affair’: Explore the drama and secrets of family life in fiction. Authors Aube Rey Lescure, Hafsa Lodi and Uttama Kirit Patel uncover what binds families together and what can make them fall apart.
- 25th January, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Dai Rahmi, Dr Ghanim Samarrai and Soukaina Habiballah take you behind the scenes of translating poetry. They explore how to keep a poem’s rhythm, meaning and soul intact, while balancing loyalty to the original with creative expression.
- 21st January, 02:00 pm to 02:45 pm
- H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: In this session at the Emirates Literature Festival shares insights from his book Life Has Taught Me, reflecting on leadership, optimism, excellence and the importance of lifelong learning.
- 21st January, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Other speakers include Abdulaziz Al Marshad (Head of the “Qafia” platform), Salha Obaid, Saud Alsanousi, Faisal Al Suwaidi and many more.
- Tickets: From AED 50 (prices vary for each event)
- Language: English and Arabic
WORKSHOPS
If you want to get hands-on with anything literature-related, your best bet is to attend one of the Workshops at Emirates LitFest.
Renowned authors and members of the publishing industry will conduct more than 15 workshops. Each allows attendees to explore skills such as writing and drawing.
- Tickets: Varies depending on the workshop
- Language: English and Arabic
SPECIAL EVENTS
Special Events offer a variety of marvellous experiences for the attendees. There are breakfasts, dinners, poetry nights and insightful discussions on the list. Popular events include ‘Highrise Homicide,’ where you’ll be part of a murder mystery (with dinner included), A Taste of India with Asma Khan ( six-course menu of Bengal dishes) and ‘The Big Sing,’ a musical show.
Look out for the LitFest After Hours, a series of events after 06:00 pm that offers experiences and activities such as poetry readings, discussions of fantasy and mythology (the genres) and workshops on loving and accepting yourself, among other interesting topics.
Get your hands on the tickets for these events as soon as possible, as these are typically in high demand and garner quite the attention.
- Tickets: AED 50 (prices vary for each event)
- Language: English and Arabic
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Literature is powerful for children as it can shape their creativity and imagination, encouraging them to question the world around them. Family Activities are about events by children’s and YA authors and recognise young talents.
Look out for Children Take Over (English and Arabic editions), where child performers and writers take over the stage. Other highlights include events by authors like Brothers McLeod, Sarah McIntyre and Philip Reeve, MC Grammar and many more.
- Tickets: AED 50 onwards
- Language: English and Arabic
Visit the Emirates Literature Festival Dubai website to learn about the events and the participating authors.
Emirates LitFest After Hours
Emirates LitFest After Hours brings the festival to life at night with stories, music and lively conversations. Meet authors, enjoy live storytelling, movies, games and experience literature in a fresh, engaging way.
Join Superheated Neurons for board games and friendly tournaments or vibe to music from B.B. King to Chris Cornell, mixing pop, soul, R&B and jazz. Roll the dice in Dungeons & Dragons or pause after a full day at LitFest to read quietly with fellow book lovers.
- Tickets: AED 50
- Language: English and Arabic
TICKETS
LitFest passes let you enjoy multiple festival events for one price.
- Conversations Pass: AED 400
- Access a wide range of sessions in English and Arabic.
- Curate your own personalised festival experience.
- Bil Arabi Pass: AED 100
- Enjoy multiple sessions and panel discussions in Arabic.
- How to get your pass:
- Purchase on the festival website.
- Collect it onsite from the box office.
- Use it for smooth entry to sessions and keep it as a souvenir.
- To avoid missing out, consider signing up for a Foundation Friends membership.
FAQS
Can children participate in Emirates Literature Festival activities?
Yes, the Emirates children’s literature festival in Dubai offers fun workshops, activities and sessions designed for young readers to learn, play and explore stories.
Is Emirates Literature Festival free to attend?
The Dubai literature festival features both free and ticketed events, so some activities are free while others require a pass or ticket.
What is the festival contact number?
If you have any queries regarding the Emirates Lit Fest 2026, contact the organisers at +971-54-349-8508. Alternatively, you can email them at info@elfdubai.org.
The Emirates Literature Festival 2026 offers something for everyone with its impressive line-up of authors. It’s an ideal experience for bibliophiles, aspiring writers, journalists, intellectuals and anyone curious about seeing the world from a fresh perspective.
Are you looking for a new book to read? Check out Dubai’s best bookstores for anything from best-selling biographies to fiction. Also, there are a few bookshops where you can get second-hand books in Dubai, which is a sustainable way to find hidden gems and celebrate your love of reading.
Discover everything bookish in Dubai with MyBayut, the region’s biggest property portal.
Note: The featured image collage is courtesy of the official website of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
