Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to Attend 45th Sharjah International Book Fair 2026

Fair Overview and Theme

Running from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme Made of Stories, the 12‑day fair will host 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries, alongside 106 writers, artists and intellectuals from 25 countries and 1,500 cultural, artistic and creative events.

Notable Participants

The fair will welcome Indian actress, writer and content creator Shenaz Treasurywala, Nigerian‑American author Nnedi Okorafor, British bestselling novelist Clare Mackintosh and Chinese novelist and screenwriter Liu Zhenyun. Filipino historian and author Ambeth R. Ocampo, known for making Philippine history accessible to a wider audience, is expected to draw interest from the UAE’s sizable Filipino expatriate community. Other international participants include American translator and writer Daisy Rockwell and Canadian‑American author and journalist John Vaillant. Indian expats from Kerala form a significant part of the audience each year, and Satheesan’s participation is expected to attract considerable interest from the UAE’s large Indian expatriate community, particularly Malayalis. This will be his first visit to the UAE since assuming office, and the country is home to an estimated 4.5 million Indian expats, the majority of whom come from Kerala. Organisers have yet to announce the date and time of his session.

Oman as Guest of Honour

Oman will be the Guest of Honour at the 45th SIBF. The sultanate will bring 50 participants, including 41 writers and poets, to showcase its literary traditions, history, heritage and contemporary cultural identity. Its programme will feature 15 cultural sessions, six children’s workshops and 20 artistic performances, alongside additional artistic presentations and cooking sessions. Daily musical and traditional folk performances will introduce visitors to Omani culture.

Organisers’ Comments

Details of the international authors’ schedules will be announced in the coming days. The diverse line‑up brings together political leadership, entertainment and literary talent, reinforcing SIBF’s role as a meeting point for writers, thinkers and readers from around the world, the organisers said.