SHARJAH: The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival 2025 kicked off today, April 23, at Expo Centre Sharjah, bringing 12 days of colourful learning, fun, and imagination for young readers and families. Under the theme “Dive Into Books”, the festival is a treasure trove of over 1,000 events, blending reading, science, cooking, and creativity.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the festival features 122 publishers from 22 countries and 200+ authors, illustrators and thinkers from around the world. With 1,024 total activities planned, this year’s edition is buzzing with workshops, shows, exhibitions, and cultural talks for all ages.
The lineup includes over 600 hands-on workshops, 85 cooking shows, and a whopping 150+ interactive sessions in the Comics Corner. Kids can learn manga drawing, robot building, and even design character-inspired candles. Don’t miss standout sessions like ‘Rotating Robots’, ‘The Art of Thread Drawing’, and ‘Make Your Mechanical Brush’.
One major highlight is the all-new Sherlock Holmes Competition. It transforms part of the venue into a 10,000-square-foot Victorian mystery zone. Young detectives can unravel clues and dive into science-filled challenges.
Adding more spark, the Future Makers Museum lets children explore fossils, machines, and even rocket launches. The festival also brings 85 theatrical and roaming performances, including the energetic Science Street with Abdullah Anan’s explosive experiments, and shows like ‘Junklandia’, ‘Winged Wonders’, and ‘Magic in the Air’.
Festival mascots Wamda, Shoaa, Qalam, and Noqta will keep spirits high with roaming performances. Open daily from 9am to 9pm (except Fridays: 4pm to 9pm), the festival runs until May 4.
