Sharjah Festival of Arabic Poetry to kick off on Jan 5

December 29, 2025 / 12:58 PM

Sharjah 24: Under the support of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the 22nd Sharjah Festival of Arabic Poetry will start on Monday, January 5, 2026. This exciting event will last for a week and will bring together over 80 poets, critics, and media experts from Arab countries and several African nations.

Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, the head of the Department of Culture, stated that this festival is creating a new chapter in the rich tradition of Arabic poetry. He emphasized that the event is not just a gathering but a significant part of the Arab cultural scene, shaped by the deep appreciation that His Highness the Ruler has for poetry. He sees it as an essential part of the nation’s identity and heritage.

Al Owais shared that this year's festival will celebrate participants' creativity and announce 12 winners of the prestigious Golden Rhyme Award.

He also highlighted the presence of African poets at the festival, noting that their participation shows the festival's commitment to embracing new ideas and experiences in poetry. This, in turn, helps strengthen cultural connections and enrich the poetry landscape in both the Arab world and Africa.

The opening ceremony will be held at the Sharjah Cultural Palace. It will begin with a documentary called "Years of Poetry," followed by poetry performances, and will conclude with awards for the fifth edition of the Sharjah Prize for Arabic Poetry Criticism. The winners this year are Mahrez Ben Mohsen Rachdi of Tunisia (first place), Al Mahdi Al Araj of Morocco (second place), and Al Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud of Mauritania (third place).

Golden Rhymes Award

The second morning of the festival will witness the honoring of the winners of the Golden Rhymes Award - 4th Edition, at the Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Center, and the winners will present their poetic texts "Annals of Rhymes 2025".

Intellectual seminar

The fourth day of the festival begins with a symposium titled "The Emotional Trend in Arabic Poetry and its Transformations," held in two sessions. The first session features Dr Said Bakour from Morocco and Dr Ahmed Al Jawa from Tunisia.

The second session includes Dr Mahmoud Al-Dabaa from Egypt and Dr Omar Al-Amiri from Jordan.

The festival will feature poetry evenings throughout its duration.