The 21st Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival will take place from January 6 to 12. It will feature over 70 poets, literary critics, and media personalities from across the Arab world and several African countries.
Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, highlighted the festival’s importance. “The Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival has become a key cultural event, significantly enriching the Arab literary scene. Thanks to the vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the festival continues to support Arab poets and promote authentic Arabic poetry,” he said.
In addition to poetry readings, the festival will host book signings by various poets. It will also unveil 12 new poets recognized for their contributions to the “Golden Qawafi Award,” now in its third edition. These poets have contributed to Qawafi magazine across its 12 editions in 2024.
An intellectual symposium titled “Arabic Poetry: From Stability to Transformation” will be held to discuss key issues and developments in Arabic poetry through research and studies.
The festival will also honor two poets with the 13th Sharjah Award for Arabic Poetry. Emirati poet Talal Al Junaibi and Syrian poet Hussein Al Abdullah will receive the award for their outstanding contributions to Arabic literature.
Al Owais noted that poets from African countries, including Senegal, Mali, Niger, and Chad, will participate, marking the festival’s expansion into new poetic landscapes and reinforcing connections between Arabic poetry and African literary traditions.
The festival will open at the Sharjah Cultural Palace with the screening of a documentary titled “A Decade of Giving: The Houses of Poetry.” Poetry readings will follow from Talal Al Junaibi (UAE), Hussein Al Abdullah (Syria), and Talal Al Salti (Oman).
The festival will also celebrate the winners of the 4th Sharjah Award for Arabic Poetry Criticism. Fathi Ben Belkacem Nasri (Tunisia) will take first place, Dr. Ahmed Jarallah Yassin (Iraq) will claim second, and Ibrahim Al Karawi (Morocco) will receive third.
The winners of the 3rd Golden Qawafi Award will also be honored at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre.
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