Sharjah 24: The Sharjah Department of Culture has launched its annual programme for permanent festivals and forums, which runs from September 2025 to August 2026.
The plan includes more than 40 festivals and forums organised by the department at the local, Arab, and international levels, in a move aimed at strengthening Sharjah's leading role in the diverse cultural, intellectual, and creative movement.
Sharjah: leading cultural hub
His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, said that organising more than 40 festivals and forums at the local, Arab, and international levels embodies the cultural, intellectual, and creative momentum pursued by Sharjah. It reflects the directives and vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to sustain cultural activation and harness all efforts to make culture, arts, and creativity fundamental pillars of public life, transforming them into a global cultural discourse among peoples.
Al Owais pointed out that the programme is a living translation of Sharjah's vision to strengthen its position as a leading hub for culture, thought, and the arts. It also reflects the emirate's ongoing commitment to supporting creativity in all its vital fields.
Vital venue for Arab intellectuals
The Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture added that the diverse cultural events within the programme contribute to building a distinct cultural environment that serves as a vital venue for Arab intellectuals to present their creations and participate continuously in festivals, evenings, seminars, and theatrical performances.
Awards
This creative activity is reinforced by awards presented by the Department of Culture in various literary genres to encourage creative individuals. Honours are also given to prominent cultural figures in recognition of their role in enriching the cultural landscape with rich and influential works. This cultural presence is complemented by the public's interaction and interest in participating in various events, which have become a remarkable cultural phenomenon accompanying cultural activities locally, regionally, and internationally.
It all starts with narrative
The Department of Culture's first event will begin with the Sharjah Narrative Forum on September 9th. The Forum will be held in Egypt as a new Arab stop for its twenty-first edition, with broad Egyptian and Arab participation discussing numerous issues and outcomes revolving around emerging topics in "the novel and artificial intelligence." This will be followed by the launch of the twelfth Kalba Short Play Festival.
October will witness the launch of the seventh edition of the Marrakech Moroccan Poetry Festival and the inauguration of the seventh edition of the Kalba Cultural Festival, while the Mafraq Arabic Poetry Festival will celebrate the launch of its tenth edition.
November will celebrate the new (26) edition of the Islamic Arts Festival under the slogan "Siraj," while the Egyptian public will have a date with the tenth edition of the Luxor Arabic Poetry Festival.
December will be packed with events, starting with the Sharjah Award for Critical Research. The 16th edition of the Sharjah Festival of Fine Arts will be followed by the 9th edition of the Sharjah Desert Theatre Festival. The Sharjah House of Poetry will celebrate World Arabic Language Day, while Tunisian poetry fans will be treated to the 10th edition of the Kairouan Festival of Arabic Poetry. December will conclude with the 5th Khorfakkan Cultural Festival and the 13th edition of the Sharjah Scout Theatre Festival.
The new year
2026 will begin with the 22nd edition of the Sharjah Arab Poetry Festival. January will witness the 24th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Honouring Forum in Tunisia and the 11th edition of the Khorfakkan Theatre Festival.
Cultural events will continue, with the 20th edition of the Sharjah Nabati Poetry Festival in February, the 9th edition of the Wadi Al Helou Folklore Days, and the 11th edition of the Nouakchott Festival of Arabic Poetry.
World Poetry Day will kick off the month of March at the House of Poetry, celebrating poetry and its creators. The Sharjah Theatre Days will also be held. In its 35th session, the month's activities will conclude with honoring the authors of the Department of Culture's 2025 publications.
In April, the Sharjah Cultural Honouring Forum will continue its Arab tour, hosting its 25th session in Egypt and moving to Jordan for the 26th session. The same month will also witness the organisation of the Performing Arts Workshop at the House of Poetry and the fifth Dibba Al Hisn Cultural Festival. In the same month, Sharjah will also celebrate the winners of the 29th Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity (first edition), which will be held at the Sharjah Cultural Palace.
May will witness the launch of five events: the 7th Tétouan Festival of Moroccan Poets, an exhibition of the results of the Sharjah Calligraphy Centre's sessions, the 13th Sharjah School Theatre Festival, which will be held in two stages (preliminary and final), and the 9th Dibba Al Hisn Festival of Duo Theater.
In June, the 27th Sharjah Cultural Honouring Forum will be held in Morocco and the 28th in Mauritania.
In July, the Arab Poetry Forums will be launched. In Africa, the fifth edition will be held in Chad, Guinea, Benin, and Côte d'Ivoire. It will continue its tour in August to Senegal, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and South Sudan.
The 13th edition of the Elements of Theatrical Performance will also be held at the Kalba Cultural Center in August.
The Sharjah Department of Culture continues its cultural programmes by organising poetry evenings and seminars at the House of Poetry, the Al Heera Literary Council, the Khorfakkan Literary Council, and the Kalba Literary Council. Art workshops will also continue at the Arabic Calligraphy Centre in the Calligraphy Square, as well as the "Katateeb" programme.
Cultural magazines
The Department continues to publish its cultural magazines, which cover local affairs in the Emirate of Sharjah from its various cities. Al-Rafid magazine continues to monitor the cultural scene in Sharjah. From the Eastern and Central Regions of Sharjah, Al-Sharqiya and Al-Wusta magazines cover local development and cultural affairs in the cities of Al Dhaid, Al Bataeh, Mleiha, Al Madam, Khorfakkan, Kalba, and Dibba AlHisn, as well as the rest of the region. Al-Hirah magazine from Sharjah continues to highlight Nabati poetry and topics related to this broad, creative literary genre.
Sharjah Cultural Magazine also publishes a wide range of cultural topics, highlighting Arabic literature through a series of creative articles. Al-Masrah Magazine is also published, focusing on studies, theatrical texts, book reviews, coverage of theatrical festivals, and highlighting Arab and international theatrical troupes. Meanwhile, Al Qawafi magazine is published, highlighting Arabic poetry through studies, journalistic interviews, and critical readings. It also invites submissions from poets from Arab countries.
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