The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) is bringing families together through books, creativity, and shared discovery – encouraging reading as a core habit that connects generations to their intellectual heritage and cultural identity.

The focus reflects the UAE’s commitment to nurturing knowledge, critical thinking, and strong values across society.

This year’s fair, which is set to continue until 18 September, coincides with the UAE declaration of 2026 as the ‘Year of Family’. The ADIBF’s programme places families at the heart of the cultural experience, giving visitors of all ages the chance to learn, create and engage with books, the Arabic language and heritage.
 
The ‘Year of Family’ gives added significance to this edition of the fair, held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, where families are not confined to side events, but are placed at the heart of the cultural experience. Cultural, educational, and creative activities cater for different ages and interests, bringing families together through books, art, and storytelling. Each visit offers opportunities for conversation, discovery and shared learning.

ADIBF champions the importance of building a lasting relationship with books, a notion that begins at home, where children first discover the beauty of language, stories and imagination. The 35th edition expands on opportunities for families to come together and invites younger generations to contribute creatively to the literary experience.

The educational programme for children and young adults offers more than 1,000 activities in which they can explore interactive reading, storytelling, theatre, art, and creative expression. Sessions such as ‘What Is the Story Telling Us?’, ‘Make the Story Your Own’, and ‘Maya’s Stories’ combine books with play, imagination, and sharing – helping children express themselves, think creatively, and making reading a vivid experience linked to the child’s memory and emotions.

The ADIBF also showcases more than 37 young authors aged seven to 16, who are launching their books at the fair, inspiring other young readers to write their own stories and giving families an opportunity to celebrate these achievements and discover their children talents.

The fair features the ‘Next Chapter’ initiative, which features educational tours of schools and universities led by distinguished authors and guests. The tours bring the Fair’s activities directly to educational institutions, thereby broadening access to the knowledge it offers and enhancing its societal impact. The initiative also includes a wide range of interactive sessions organised in collaboration with various schools and universities across Abu Dhabi.

selection of Al Khalil ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi as this edition’s Focus Personality brings the Arabic language’s rich scholarly heritage into conversation with contemporary knowledge. By presenting the legacy of the eighth-century Arab linguist, lexicographer and scholar in ways that engage younger audiences, ADIBF connects linguistic traditions with innovation and issues shaping the present and future.

The cultural gathering celebrates Balkan culture as the Guest of Honour, in collaboration with the Republic of North Macedonia, and honours Don Quixote as the ‘Book of the World’, which highlights the role of translation in broadening the perspectives of Arab readers.

ADIBF also brings generations together through music and the arts, with sessions exploring the careers of Arab singers Nagat Al Saghira and Abdel Halim Hafez, introducing younger audiences to artistic legacy. The ceremony honouring the 2026 Sheikh Zayed Book Award winners further celebrates literary and cultural achievements from the region and beyond.

In this way, a visit to the Fair becomes a multifaceted family experience, and the event becomes a place where families and culture converge in the details of everyday life. In the ‘Year of Family’, the fair highlights the role of  families in nurturing a new generation of readers, encouraging children to turn books into daily companions and develop the knowledge, imagination and sense of identity that will help shape their future.

Through this programme, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre continues to support reading and publishing, in line with the UAE’s commitment to a knowledge-based society. By strengthening the value of culture in family life and equipping younger generations to learn and create, the Centre ensures ADIBF’s continuous evolution, connecting generations through shared discovery and an appreciation of Arab culture.