SHARJAH, UAE- For many school students across the UAE, November brings an eagerly anticipated visit to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026). Whether discovering the fair for the first time or returning to a familiar destination, young readers are exploring new titles, revisiting favourite characters and finding stories that capture their imagination.
From books popularised on social media platforms such as BookTok and Bookstagram to familiar series that have kept readers hooked for years, students are arriving with different reading interests and wish lists.
Ramzi, a first-time SIBF visitor and school student, said his favourite books are from Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
“I think Wimpy Kid is very fun, and I love the main character, Greg Heffley,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sashin Vijay, a high school student, expressed his enthusiasm for Japanese manga, particularly Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen.
“I follow the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series, and I want to read all the manga volumes for it,” he said.
Ryan was searching for the next instalment in Max Brallier’s The Last Kids on Earth series. “I really like the first book, and I want to read the next one,” she said as she looked for her chosen title.
A place to discover the next favourite read
Beyond searching for familiar titles, students also spoke about the excitement of discovering books they had never encountered before.
Jace, a Grade 5 student, said the fair had introduced him to a wide variety of books that caught his attention. “I got to see so many marvelous books here,” he said. “I will definitely come back with my family to get more of these books.”
For Raksha, who enjoys Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, SIBF offers readers the opportunity to discover stories that match their interests.“Everyone wants to read a book; they just haven’t found the right one yet,” she said. “This is the best place to find what they like.”
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) runs from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Made of Stories’, with the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour. The fair brings together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, showcasing more than 1.7 million titles. Its programme features 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events, with 106 guests from 25 countries.
