The Sharjah International Book Fair 2026 opened on 4 November and runs until 15 November at Expo Centre Sharjah. This is the 45th edition, themed Made of Stories, and the organisers have arranged free boat rides, daily buses from Dubai and Ajman and extra free parking with shuttles, so getting there does not have to mean sitting in traffic.
Table of Contents
Dates, venue and what is on
Here is the shape of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2026 at a glance:
- Dates: 4 to 15 November 2026, twelve days in total
- Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah
- Edition: the 45th, under the theme Made of Stories
- Exhibitors: 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries
- Programme: around 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events
- Guests: 106 writers, artists and intellectuals from 25 countries, with Oman as Guest of Honour
- On the shelves: roughly 1.7 million titles
Buses from Dubai and Ajman
The Sharjah Book Authority is running daily buses to the venue from one Dubai metro station and one Ajman mall, with three departures each way:
| Route | Departure times |
|---|---|
| Etisalat Metro Station, Dubai to Expo Centre Sharjah | 9:00am, 1:00pm, 5:00pm |
| City Centre Ajman to Expo Centre Sharjah | 9:00am, 1:00pm, 5:00pm |
| Expo Centre Sharjah back to both stations | 12:00pm, 4:00pm, 9:00pm |
Note the gap between the last outbound bus at 5:00pm and the last return at 9:00pm, which gives an evening visit a fixed end time. For other intercity journeys, our guide to Ajman to Abu Dhabi bus timings covers a longer route.
Free boats from Al Qasba and Sharjah Aquarium
Free boat services run daily to the fair from Sharjah Aquarium Station and Al Qasba Station. If you are already near Al Khan or Al Qasba, this is the easiest way in and it avoids the car park queues entirely.
Driving and parking
- Extra free parking has been opened along the road running from Expo Centre Sharjah towards the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with shuttle buses to the halls
- The Expo Centre car parks and its multi-storey car park stay open as usual
- From inside Sharjah, approach via Al Taawun Street or Corniche Street
- Arriving along Al Ittihad Street, use the Al Taawun Tunnel interchange
- Driving from Dubai, take the Al Nahda interchange towards Al Taawun Street, then continue along Corniche Street
What to check before you go
Daily opening hours and whether any admission charge applies were not stated in the transport and programme announcements, so confirm both on the official fair website before you travel. A handful of items need booking in advance rather than walk-in entry, including three main stage productions and two specialised courses. If you are planning around other exhibitions this month, see our guide to Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 dates, halls and entry.
For families, the children and teen areas include the Future Hands District, an interactive city introducing young visitors to different professions, and Poets Corner, where personal stories are turned into poems in Arabic or English. The family show Impossible or Science is scheduled for 8 November. Check the full programme and timings on the official SIBF website, and watch the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority for any late changes to routes during the twelve days.
