44th SIBF welcomes diverse constellation of writers and thinkers

The star-studded list also includes Irish Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch, Indian International Booker laureate Banu Mushtaq, British psychologist and global social media phenomenon Dr. Julie Smith, and American thriller author Chris Pavone. These literary stalwarts are going to be joined by a dynamic new generation of storytellers who are redefining creativity in the digital and literary realms.

Representing countries across different continents, this year’s cultural agenda reflects SIBF’s mission to celebrate diversity, and showcase the global power of the written word to transcend borders, languages, and generations.

Voices from Africa

From Africa, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, one of the most influential literary figures of her generation, will make her SIBF debut with her newest novel Dream Count (2025). Her globally acclaimed works, including Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun, have been translated into over 55 languages and earned her numerous awards, including the MacArthur Fellowship and the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Europe’s literary luminaries

Europe’s presence at SIBF 2025 will be established by some of the continent’s most celebrated thinkers and authors. Italy’s Professor Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and The Order of Time, continues to bridge the worlds of science and philosophy. From Ireland, Paul Lynch, winner of the 2023 Booker Prize for Prophet Song, is lauded for his emotionally resonant narratives on resilience and the human condition. The United Kingdom will be represented by Dr. Julie Smith, whose bestseller Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? has sold more than two million copies, and David Wengrow, co-author of The Dawn of Everything, which redefines our understanding of civilisation’s origins.

Voices from Asia

Asia’s literary landscape will shine with powerful voices that embody diversity and change. From India, Banu Mushtaq, the first Kannada-language author to win the International Booker Prize, brings her groundbreaking anthology Heart Lamp to Sharjah, alongside India’s Prajakta Koli, also known as MostlySane, one of the country’s most successful digital creators and author of Too Good to Be True. From Pakistan, author and actor Mira Sethi, whose debut short story collection Are You Enjoying? was widely acclaimed, and veteran Urdu playwright Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi, one of Pakistan’s most respected literary figures, will share their creative journeys with audiences.

North America’s storytellers

The United States adds creative flair to this year’s agenda through bestselling thriller writer Chris Pavone, whose novels including The Doorman and Two Nights in Lisbon have topped The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and Armen Adamjan, the Danish-American sustainability advocate and creator of Creative Explained, whose viral content and books such as Don’t Throw It Out have inspired millions to live sustainably.

SIBF 2025 will feature hundreds of panel discussions, author sessions, book signings, and cultural events across genres and disciplines, from literature and science to digital storytelling and sustainability.