15th Sharjah Publishers Conference 2026

The Sharjah Publishers Conference is the annual professional gathering run by the Sharjah Book Authority for the global book trade. Its 15th edition takes place over three days just before the Sharjah International Book Fair, giving publishers, literary agents and publishing specialists a focused setting to buy and sell rights, compare market insights and build cross-border partnerships.

Who attends

The conference is aimed at publishing professionals, with a particular focus on people working in translation and rights trading. The organizer says it welcomes participants from more than 70 countries.

• Publishers from the Arab world and internationally
• Literary agents and rights managers
• Translation and publishing specialists

Programme

The three days combine expert-led seminars on global publishing trends with structured business time.

• Seminars on major trends in the global book industry
• Pre-arranged one-to-one B2B matchmaking meetings
• Afternoon networking and business discussions
• Social events
• The Publisher Recognition Award

SIBF Translation Grant

Deals made during the conference can apply for the $300,000 SIBF Translation Grant, which supports translation of titles traded at the event.

NYU training day

On 31 October 2026, the day before the conference, the Sharjah Book Authority and the NYU SPS Center for Publishing, Writing, and Media run a one-day learning and development programme for Arab and African publishers at Expo Centre Sharjah, covering global audio, marketing and social video, the international translation market and sharing of cultural assets. Registration for it is separate.