The 45th Sharjah Book Fair runs from 4 to 15 November 2026 at Expo Centre Sharjah, and entry is free for everyone. Over 12 days, the fair brings together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries, 1,500 cultural and artistic events, and 106 writers and thinkers from 25 countries. This year the fair runs under the theme “Made of Stories”, with Oman as Guest of Honour, and it is the last edition to be held at Expo Centre Sharjah before the fair moves to a new home in 2027.
- Sharjah Book Fair at a glance
- Opening hours, day by day
- Tickets and entry
- How to get to Expo Centre Sharjah
- What to see inside the halls
- Buying books at the fair
- Authors and talks
- Oman takes centre stage
- A day out with children
- Tips that make the visit easier
- The last fair at Expo Centre Sharjah
- Good to know before you go
If you are planning a visit, the short version is simple. You do not need a ticket, you do not need to register in advance for general entry, and you can walk in any day between 4 and 15 November. The rest of this article covers the opening hours, how to get there, the authors and events worth planning around, and the small details that make the day easier, especially if you are going with children.
Sharjah Book Fair at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4 to 15 November 2026, Wednesday to Sunday |
| Venue | Expo Centre Sharjah, Al Taawun Street, Al Khan |
| Entry | Free, no ticket needed for general visitors |
| Organiser | Sharjah Book Authority |
| Theme | Made of Stories |
| Guest of Honour | Oman |
| Publishers and exhibitors | 2,673 from 124 countries |
| Events | Around 1,500 cultural and artistic events |
| Authors and guests | 106 writers, artists and intellectuals from 25 countries |
Opening hours, day by day
The halls open at different times depending on the day, so it pays to check before you set off. Published visitor schedules for this edition list the following hours.
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday to Wednesday | 10am to 10pm |
| Thursday and Saturday | 10am to 11pm |
| Friday | 4pm to 11pm |
Friday is the one that catches people out. The fair opens in the afternoon on Fridays, so a morning visit on 6 or 13 November will not work. Thursday and Saturday are the longest days and the best choice if you want unhurried browsing time. Individual sessions and stage shows may run on their own schedules, so check the day you plan to attend on the official SIBF website or app before you travel.
Tickets and entry
General admission is free and you do not need to buy a ticket or register in advance to walk in and browse the halls. That is one of the reasons the fair draws such large crowds, and it makes a spontaneous visit easy.
Some parts of the programme do need a booking. Workshops, professional sessions and a small number of special talks ask visitors to register first, and three family stage productions need advance booking. If there is a specific author session or workshop you want, register through the official SIBF website or the SIBF app, which is available on the App Store and Google Play. The app also shows the daily schedule, which helps you plan around the sessions that matter to you.
How to get to Expo Centre Sharjah
Expo Centre Sharjah sits on Al Taawun Street in the Al Khan area, next to Arab Mall, and it is around 20 minutes by car from Sharjah International Airport. Drivers coming from Dubai take the road towards Sharjah and follow signs for Al Khan and the Expo Centre.
Parking is free for all visitors during the fair, and the car park works as a ticketless zone where your number plate acts as the ticket. Free shuttle bus services and extra parking facilities have also been announced for this edition. Weekends are the busiest time, so arrive early if you are driving on a Friday evening or Saturday, or use a taxi or ride-hailing car and skip the parking hunt altogether.
What to see inside the halls
Publishers sell books from their stands in Arabic, English and many other languages, across every kind of genre, from novels and poetry to history, science, cookbooks and children’s picture books. With thousands of exhibitors in the halls, the simplest plan is to pick two or three kinds of books you actually want, then let the rest of the visit be browsing.
The Sharjah Book Fair is also a working fair for the publishing world, with rights deals, translation meetings and a publishers conference running alongside the public days. For ordinary visitors, that trade side of the event is mostly invisible, and the halls feel like a very large bookshop mixed with a festival.
Look out for the country pavilions and the stands of small and independent publishers. They often carry titles you will not find in the big chains, and the people behind the stands are usually happy to talk about what they publish. If you are buying for children, head for the dedicated children’s areas early in the day, before the afternoon crowds build up.
Buying books at the fair
The Sharjah Book Fair is a good place to buy books you will not find easily elsewhere, because so many publishers bring stock they do not ship to local bookshops. New releases, translations and small-press titles sit side by side, and prices are often lower than the cover price, with many stands offering discounts during the fair.
Many visitors come to the Sharjah Book Fair with a short list and a budget, and that is a sensible way to shop here. Start with the books you came for, then browse the stands around them. If a book is on your list and you find it, buy it when you see it, because popular titles can sell out before the fair ends, and a stand that had a title on Saturday may not have it on Sunday.
Check the price before you pay, since some stands price in dirhams and a few international publishers price in their home currency. Most stands accept cards, but it is worth carrying some cash for smaller stalls. If you are buying several books, ask whether the publisher offers a bundle price or a discount for buying more than one title. A bag with handles, or a small wheeled trolley if you plan a big shop, will save your arms by the end of the day.
Authors and talks
Meeting authors is one of the best reasons to go. The 2026 programme features 106 writers, artists and intellectuals from 25 countries, with talks, panel discussions, poetry readings, book signings and writing workshops spread across the 12 days.
- International names: Chinese novelist Liu Zhenyun, Nigerian-American writer Nnedi Okorafor, and International Booker Prize-winning translator Daisy Rockwell.
- Emirati and Arab writers: Sultan Al Ameemi, Ali Abu Al Reesh and Aisha Sultan.
- Cultural Personality of the Year: Moroccan scholar Dr Said Yaktine, recognised for more than four decades of work in Arabic literary criticism.
Sessions still to come:
| Date | Session | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 14 Nov | Durjoy Datta and Rhea Chopra on love and the stories we tell | 7:15pm to 8:15pm | Forum 3 |
| Sat 14 Nov | Vineet Nayar on putting employees first | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Forum 3 |
| Sun 15 Nov | Shenaz Treasurywala on journeys, stories and memoirs | 7:15pm to 8:15pm | Forum 2 |
Session times can change, so confirm the day and hall for any author you want to see through the official schedule before you go.
Oman takes centre stage
Oman is the Guest of Honour at this year’s Sharjah Book Fair, and its pavilion is one of the biggest draws of the edition. The Omani delegation brings 50 members, including 41 writers and poets, with more than 15 cultural sessions, six children’s workshops and 20 artistic performances.
The programme covers Omani heritage and contemporary literary life, from poetry and storytelling to music and craft. Names to look out for include Zahran Al Qasimi, Mohammed Al Yahyai, Hassan Al Matroushi and Mahmoud Al Rahbi. Even if you have never read Omani literature, the pavilion is a good place to start, and the children’s workshops make it a natural stop for families.
A day out with children
The fair works well as a family day out, and much of the programme is built for young readers. Children can browse picture books, join storytelling sessions and take part in workshops, and the halls are easy to walk with a stroller, though they get crowded on weekend afternoons.
A family stage production needs advance booking, so reserve early if you want seats. Waterland plays on 14 and 15 November, the closing weekend.
Sharjah Public Libraries is also running seven events at the fair under its Library of Civilisation programme, across three strands called Book in Focus, Behind the Scenes and The Big Book Club. The library is offering annual adult membership for AED 75, inclusive of VAT, during the fair, and visitors can register at its stand in Hall 4.
Tips that make the visit easier
A little planning goes a long way at a fair this size. These are the things regular visitors get right.
- Plan your Sharjah Book Fair visit around the sessions you want, not the other way round. Pick one or two talks or signings, then browse the halls in between. Trying to see everything in one trip leaves most people tired and empty-handed.
- Go on a weekday if you can. Sunday to Wednesday the halls are calmer, the queues are shorter and the authors have more time to talk. If you can only go at the weekend, arrive when the doors open.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring a bag for books. The halls are large, the floors are hard, and a tote bag or small backpack saves your arms. Many publishers offer discounts during the fair, so set a rough budget before you start browsing.
- Carry water and plan a break. There are food and drink options at the venue, and a short pause halfway through the day keeps children happy and adults patient.
- Check the schedule on the day. Authors and session times can shift, and the SIBF app shows the latest version of the programme. A quick check before you leave home avoids a wasted trip for a session that moved.
The last fair at Expo Centre Sharjah
This edition carries a small piece of history. The 2026 fair is the last one planned at Expo Centre Sharjah, and reports say the event will move to a new exhibition and convention centre from its 46th edition in November 2027. The fair has grown far beyond its early years, and the move reflects how large it has become.
For visitors, that makes this year a good one to attend, whether you are a regular or coming for the first time. The venue is familiar, the layout is known, and the programme is one of the fullest the fair has put together.
Good to know before you go
Entry is free and you do not need a ticket. The fair runs 4 to 15 November 2026 at Expo Centre Sharjah on Al Taawun Street. Fridays open at 4pm, other days open at 10am. Parking is free, and shuttle buses are running for the fair. Some workshops and stage shows need advance booking, so register through the SIBF website or app if you have a specific session in mind.
If you love books, the Sharjah Book Fair is worth a day of your time. Go with a short list of authors or books you want, leave room in your bag for the ones you did not expect to find, and give yourself enough hours to enjoy it without rushing.
