Browsing: Culture

The sixth edition of the Voices of Future Generations anthology, which features stories written entirely by children on themes of sustainability and environment responsibility, was launched during the just concluded Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Importantly, the 2026 edition also recognised several UAE school teachers playing a pivotal role in nurturing the young writers behind these stories by honouring them with the Teacher Champion Award.

Ten debutant writers have won the First Chapter 2026 – the ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship at this year’s Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. The mentorship programme could be a first step towards them clinching a publishing deal too.

Several emerging writers were announced as winners in different categories of the prestigious MBRSC Short Story Award: ‘New Voices in Sci-Fi’ at the 2026 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Five participants got a special mention as well.

Presented by the Emirates Literature Foundation in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the award challenged aspiring authors to craft original and thought-provoking science fiction stories exploring themes such as space exploration, time travel, advanced technology and futuristic civilisations.

Musical storytelling embodying the melodious spirit of Tanzania, and a performance highlighting ancient African traditions through poetry, music and chants enlivened the stage at the ongoing Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL 2026). Cultural exchanges with Arab and Emirati authors also highlighted literature as a bridge between languages and identities.

Award-winning authors, novelists and acclaimed poets from across Africa will be coming together for the second edition of the Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL 2026) that will be held from 14 to 18 January 2026.

Sharjah is expanding its global cultural footprint with the launch of the newly renamed Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference 2026 (SACC) that is all set to take place in March 2026 at a larger venue and with a wider programme range.

The 2026 edition, an expanded evolution of the Sharjah Animation Conference, will see the debut of an ‘Animation and Comics Market’, marking a major step in expanding industry opportunities for creators.

Explore workshops hosted by Sharjah Public Libraries that bring together literature, photography, sound and visual arts in an interactive learning experience. Titled “Aesthetics of Image & Literary Sound”, the event being held on Monday, December 29th, is aimed at the youth delving into their creative side while learning new skills.