What to expect in 16th edition of Sharjah Children's Reading Festival

The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival has returned for its 16th edition on Wednesday, April 23, bringing 12 days of cultural programming, educational workshops, and entertainment for children and families.  

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, and guided by H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the festival will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, this year’s festival adopts the theme "Dive Into Books". It features participation from 122 publishers across 22 countries, alongside more than 200 writers, illustrators, and cultural figures.  

The programme spans 1,024 scheduled activities, with 133 international guests representing 70 countries. Key components include 35+ panel discussions focusing on the state of children’s publishing, reading culture, and the challenges facing the global book industry.  

In addition to book-centric events, the festival will conduct more than 600 workshops for all age groups, 85 cooking demos, and over 150 sessions in a dedicated ‘Comics Corner’. Activities range from “Manga Drawing Techniques” to science-based sessions like “Rotating Robots” and creative exercises such as “Designing Character-Inspired Candles.”  

New additions this year include the ‘Sherlock Holmes Competition’— a Victorian-themed mystery zone spread across 10,000 square feet—and the ‘Future Makers Museum’, where children can engage in hands-on experiments like launching model rockets and digging for dinosaur fossils.  

Entertainment also plays a major role, with 85 stage and roaming performances, including the science show “Science Street” with Abdullah Anan and musical showcases like “The Golden Generation.” Performers from around the world, such as French illusionist Philippe Bougard and the troupe behind "Masked Wonderland", are also set to appear.  

The festival will run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., except on Fridays, when doors open at 4:00 p.m.