Book fair kicks off on Nov 18 with participation from 592 entities from 34 countries

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters is organizing the 49th edition of the Kuwait International Book Fair, from November 18 to 28, 2026, at the International Exhibition Grounds in the Mishref area, under the slogan “We Read... We Rise.” The event will feature participation from 592 entities representing 34 Arab and foreign countries. The fair will open at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

Qatar will be the Guest of Honor at this edition, reflecting the solid fraternal relations between Kuwait and sisterly Qatar, and strengthening cultural cooperation between the two countries. The Guest of Honor will present a pavilion showcasing its intellectual and literary output, alongside a number of cultural activities that highlight the diversity of its cultural landscape.

This edition will see participation from 19 Arab countries and 15 foreign countries, with the addition of 32 new participants. The fair will also honor Dr. Khalifa Al-Waqian as the Personality of the Edition, in recognition of his cultural career. The names of poet Abdullah Al-Faraj, poet Moudi Al-Obeidi, and historian Ahmed Al-Boushroumi will be given to Halls 5, 6, and 7, respectively, to commemorate their memory and honor their contributions to Kuwaiti culture.

The fair will welcome visitors from Sunday to Thursday during two sessions: morning from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and evening from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. On Fridays, it will be open from 3:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Council has invited the public to visit the fair, explore the latest publications, participate in its diverse cultural program, and meet with authors and publishers from Kuwait and the participating countries.