Sharjah Booksellers Conference to Shape Industry Future
The international book community is preparing to gather in the United Arab Emirates for the fifth annual Sharjah Booksellers Conference, scheduled to take place on 19–20 September 2026 at the Expo Centre Sharjah.
Held in conjunction with the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, the international professional gathering will bring together booksellers, publishers, distributors, and other book-industry stakeholders from more than 90 countries. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the conference is aimed at shaping the future of global publishing.
The two-day conference centres heavily on strengthening the global book industry ecosystem by addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities. Industry leaders, keynote speakers, and subject-matter experts will lead critical discussions exploring the rapid rise of AI in bookselling, the evolution of innovative business models, and actionable strategies for long-term sustainability. Attendees can expect a programme packed with specialised workshops, interactive panel sessions, and targeted pitch opportunities designed to foster international collaboration and improve book discoverability across borders.
The upcoming edition stands out as a vital platform for professional networking and knowledge exchange at a time when the literary marketplace is rapidly transforming. By bringing together diverse stakeholders to share best practices and confront distribution hurdles, the conference promises to leave a lasting impact on how literature is produced and shared globally.
As delegates from all around the world prepare to descend on Sharjah, the conference is well-positioned to drive innovation and spark new commercial partnerships that will resonate across the publishing landscape.
