The Sharjah Department of Culture has officially released its annual schedule of permanent festivals and forums, spanning from September 2026 to August 2027. This extensive programme features more than 40 events designed to operate at local, Arab, and international levels. Abdallah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, stated that this robust lineup reflects Sharjah’s sustainable role in enriching the global intellectual and creative landscape. He noted that the initiative aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to foster a culture of continuous contribution and support for creative talent.
The season kicks off on September 8 with the 22nd Sharjah Narrative Forum, which will be hosted in Jordan. This edition, themed “The Short Story: From the Imagination of Writing to Reception,” aims to bring together Jordanian and Arab participants to explore the nuances of short-story writing. Following this, the 13th Kalba Short Play Festival will take place. October will mark the launch of the 12th Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial under the theme “Balance,” alongside the eighth Marrakech Festival for Moroccan Poetry and the eighth Kalba Cultural Festival. Additionally, the 11th edition of the Al Mafraq Arabic Poetry Festival is set to launch in Jordan.
As the year progresses, November will host the sixth Khorfakkan Cultural Festival and the 11th Luxor Arabic Poetry Festival in Egypt. December’s agenda includes the 17th Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism, the 10th Sharjah Desert Theatre Festival, and the 14th Sharjah Scout Theatre. The House of Poetry in Sharjah will celebrate World Arabic Language Day, while Tunisia will host the 11th Kairouan Arabic Poetry Festival. The 2027 calendar begins with the 23rd Sharjah Arabic Poetry Forum, the 12th Khorfakkan Theatrical Festival, and the 21st Sharjah Folklore Poetry Festival in January, followed by the 12th Nouakchott Arabic Poetry Festival in Mauritania in February.
March 2027 will feature World Poetry Day at the House of Poetry in Sharjah, the 36th Sharjah Theatre Days, the 10th Wadi Al Helo Folk Shalla Days, and the 29th Sharjah Cultural Honoring Forum in Tunisia. In April, the Cultural Palace in Sharjah will host the 30th Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity, while the 30th Sharjah Cultural Honoring Forum moves to Egypt. The month also includes the 14th Sharjah School Theatre Festival (preliminary stage) and the sixth Dibba Al-Hisn Cultural Festival. May will see the eighth Tetouan Moroccan Poets Festival, the 12th Dibba Al-Hisn Bilateral Theatre Festival, and the final stage of the 14th Sharjah School Theatre Festival, alongside an exhibition showcasing Sharjah Calligraphy Centre course outcomes.
The summer months continue with significant international engagement. June will feature the 31st Sharjah Cultural Honoring Forum in Jordan and the 22nd Sharjah-UNESCO Prize for Arab Culture in Paris. July brings the 32nd Sharjah Cultural Honoring Forum to Mauritania, alongside the 14th Theatre Presentation Elements Course. Furthermore, July and August will see a series of Arabic Poetry Forums across Africa, including events in Chad, Mali, Benin, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Niger, Nigeria, and Guinea.
Beyond these festivals, the Department continues to support the literary community through various publications and local councils. Magazines such as Al-Rafid, Al-Sharqiyah, Al-Wousta, Al-Heera Min Al-Shariqa, Al-Shariqa Al-Thaqafiya, Al-Masrah, and Al-Qawafi provide ongoing coverage of theatre, poetry, and regional development. Local literary councils in Al Heera, Al Dhaid, Khorfakkan, and Kalba will continue to host seminars and poetry evenings, while the Arabic Calligraphy Centre and the Katateeb programme will maintain their schedule of art workshops throughout the year.
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