Warsaw Book Fair opens today with Sharjah as Guest of Honour

Sharjah opens today (Thursday) as Guest of Honour at the fifth edition of the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026, presenting a cultural programme that brings together Emirati literature, poetry, arts, heritage and publishing under the slogan ‘‘Two Civilisations. One Language of Letters.’’

- Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

A graphic of Sharjah's participation at the Warsaw Book Fair.

Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, will lead Sharjah’s delegation at the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026, taking place in the Polish capital from May 23 to 26. The participation reflects the emirate’s continued efforts to expand its presence across major international cultural platforms and strengthen ties with European publishers and writers, reinforcing Sharjah's position as a global centre for culture and publishing.

Through a 400-square-metre pavilion, Sharjah will present a cultural programme reflecting the diversity of the UAE's creative landscape, featuring 21 cultural, academic and media institutions, 36 Emirati writers, poets, academics and artists, and 15 Polish participants. Built around direct dialogue between Arab and Polish cultural experiences, the programme places books at the centre of exchange between peoples.

Sharjah’s participation features 35 cultural activities, including 28 panel discussions, four poetry evenings and three children's workshops hosted across the fairgrounds, the University of Warsaw and the Grochoteka Public Library, alongside 18 performances by the Sharjah National Band. The performances will introduce audiences across Warsaw to traditional Emirati musical and artistic expressions through a programme that connects literature with lived cultural experience.