Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has been formally inaugurated by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, bringing 95 countries and more than 1,500 events to the capital.
ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has marked its 35th edition with an official inauguration by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, under the patronage of the UAE President. The major cultural gathering continues at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi until September 18.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, this year’s fair is being held under the theme “Turn the Page, Read the World”.
What can visitors expect this year?
The scale of the 2026 edition reflects the fair’s growing international reach. It features around 1,200 exhibitors from 95 countries and more than 1,500 cultural and knowledge events.
More than 380 writers, thinkers, cultural figures and other luminaries are also participating, alongside educational institutions and government entities.
Seven countries are taking part for the first time: Kosovo, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Cuba. Their participation adds new voices to the fair’s international publishing and cultural programme.
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What are the major cultural highlights?
Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is celebrating the Balkans as Guest of Honour, creating opportunities for visitors to explore the region’s literature, culture and intellectual traditions.
The scholar Al Khalil ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi has been selected as the Focus Personality, recognising his pioneering contribution to Arabic language and scholarship.
Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote is being celebrated as the Book of the World, reflecting the fair’s wider emphasis on works and ideas that have influenced cultures across generations.
The programme is structured around global culture and civilisational dialogue, innovation and the creation of the future, and arts and live cultural experiences.
Families and younger visitors also have dedicated educational and creative activities, while publishing professionals can participate in specialist sessions examining changes across the global book industry.
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Why does the fair matter for Abu Dhabi?
The event traces its roots to 1981, when it was founded as the Islamic Book Fair. Over subsequent decades, it developed into an international platform connecting publishers, authors, readers and cultural institutions.
The 35th edition also includes the 2026 Sheikh Zayed Book Award ceremony and a new Poetry Nights programme featuring readings, literary conversations and critical discussions.
For Abu Dhabi, the event supports a broader strategy of positioning culture, knowledge and creative industries as important parts of the emirate’s development.
With participants arriving from nearly 100 countries, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair also provides a platform for publishing partnerships, translation, cultural exchange and dialogue between different communities.
Impact to expect
Culture. The six-day fair could strengthen Abu Dhabi’s international cultural profile while creating new opportunities for publishers, writers and readers to connect across languages and borders.
