Writers, researchers, translators, and publishers across the UAE and beyond can now apply for the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) Awards 2026, as the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has opened nominations for one of the region’s most prestigious literary honors, offering a total prize fund of AED 625,000.
WEBDESK – SHARJAH NEWS
Applications will remain open until August 31, with winners set to be announced during the opening ceremony of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) later this year. Entry forms and eligibility criteria are available on the official SIBF website.
The annual awards celebrate excellence in writing, publishing, and intellectual achievement while reinforcing Sharjah’s growing reputation as a global center for books, culture, and knowledge. The initiative reflects the vision of His Highness Sheik Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and supports the Sharjah Book Authority’s mission under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA.
The 2026 awards span 10 categories across four main programs, recognizing outstanding Emirati, Arab, and international authors, as well as publishing houses.
The Sharjah Award for Emirati Books, with a total prize fund of AED 300,000, honors exceptional literary and academic contributions by Emirati authors and publishers. Awards include AED 100,000 each for the Best Emirati Novel and Best Emirati Academic Book, while the Best Emirati Creative Literature Book (Poetry) and Best Emirati First Novel each receive AED 50,000.
The Sharjah Award for the Best Arabic Novel offers AED 150,000, shared equally between the winning author and publisher, recognizing original works that combine literary excellence with meaningful engagement with contemporary issues in the Arab world.
Meanwhile, the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book is open to books published in English and carries a total prize of AED 100,000, divided equally between the Best International Fiction Book and Best International Non-Fiction Book categories.
The Sharjah Publisher Recognition Award will distribute AED 75,000, with AED 25,000 awarded to each of the Best Local Publishing House, Best Arabic Publishing House, and Best International Publishing House.
The awards cover books published in 2025 and 2026, except for the Best Emirati Creative Literature Book (Poetry), which accepts works published between 2024 and 2026.
Applicants must complete the nomination form through the awards’ online platform, print the completed application, and submit three copies of the nominated book to the Sharjah Book Authority before the August 31 deadline.
The SBA has encouraged authors, researchers, publishers, and translators from the UAE and around the world to participate, describing the awards as a platform that promotes creativity, advances knowledge, and further strengthens Sharjah’s standing as an international destination for literature, publishing, and cultural exchange.
