
The 35th edition of the Fair will run from September 13 to 18, featuring Balkan Culture as Guest of Honour and aligning with the UAE's Year of Family.
The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will take place from September 13-18, 2026, featuring Balkan Culture as Guest of Honour, Al Khalil ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi as Focus Personality, and 'Don Quixote' as Book of the World.
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Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, the fair is in its 35th edition and highlights cultural exchange.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the Fair will welcome visitors over six consecutive days, from 13th to 18th September. With more than 1,500 cultural and knowledge events on the agenda, the Fair offers a unique experience that celebrates books and brings together readers, creatives, and intellectuals, offering all members of the community new spaces to discover knowledge and creativity.
The 2026 Fair has chosen Balkan Culture as its Guest of Honour in collaboration with the Republic of North Macedonia, opening a window onto a region rich in historical and cultural diversity, where East meets West. Meanwhile, the renowned linguist Al Khalil ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi has been selected as this yearâs Focus Personality, and âDon Quixoteâ by famed Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes as Book of the World, reinforcing the Fairâs role as a bridge connecting cultures.
Reading enthusiasts also enjoy some of the Fairâs most popular programmes, including Poetry Nights, Podcast from Abu Dhabi, and The Next Chapter, in addition to singing and musical performances, and dedicated spaces celebrating major artists such as Abdel Halim Hafez.
With this yearâs theme, âTurn the Page, Read the Worldâ, the Fair reinforces Abu Dhabiâs role in expanding the role of culture, literature, and the Arabic language in fostering communication and connection among peoples and civilisations. The Fairâs message is further amplified by its alignment with the UAEâs designation of 2026 as the âYear of Familyâ, where its diverse programme places the family at the heart of the cultural experience, offering different generations dedicated spaces to explore knowledge and creativity, and engage with books, the Arabic language, and Arab heritage, ultimately building an enduring connection between the home and the book.
In its 35th edition, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair continues to reinforce its position as a global cultural platform and a strategic driver of growth in the publishing sector and the cultural and creative industries. This reflects the vision of the UAE and Abu Dhabi to establish culture and knowledge a pillar of sustainable development, a source for strengthening the creative economy and soft power, and a platform for producing knowledge, anticipating the future, and promoting cultural dialogue among nations, thereby reaffirming Abu Dhabiâs status as a global capital of culture and a leading centre for knowledge production and shaping the future.
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Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will run from September 13th to 18th.
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