Sharjah International Storytellers Forum... A Bridge for International Communication
The Emirate of Sharjah is preparing to host one of the region’s most prominent cultural and heritage events, with the launch of the 26th edition of the Sharjah International Storytelling Festival 2026, running from September 23 to 27 under the theme “Stories of Friends.” The event will feature more than 120 storytellers, researchers, and participants representing 28 countries, underscoring Sharjah’s advanced cultural standing at the Gulf, Arab, and international levels.
The festival is patronized by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council of the UAE and Ruler of Sharjah, whose name has been closely associated for decades with the support of culture, heritage, and knowledge, as well as with hosting initiatives that enrich cultural life and strengthen its presence regionally and internationally.
His Highness’s patronage of cultural events has become one of the key factors contributing to transforming Sharjah into a global destination for culture, heritage, and creativity.
This new edition gains particular significance through its theme, “Stories of Friends,” which draws on a shared human value: friendship and rapprochement among peoples. It highlights the capacity of folk tales, epics, proverbs, and inherited experiences to build bridges of communication between cultures.
In this context, storytelling is not merely a means of recounting the past; it becomes a cognitive and cultural tool that helps new generations discover the history, distinctiveness, and human values of societies.
The participation of 28 countries, along with more than 120 storytellers, researchers, and participants, gives the event a clear international dimension, opening avenues for the exchange of expertise in the preservation, documentation, and transmission of intangible heritage to future generations.
Among the festival’s key features is its focus on the storyteller as a bearer of collective memory and a transmitter of inherited knowledge, traditions, and experiences. This approach aligns with the vision of the Sharjah Heritage Institute to transform heritage from material preserved in books and archives into a living practice present in society. This point was emphasized by Dr. Abdulaziz Al Muftah, who spoke about the importance of documenting intangible heritage, caring for storytellers, and preserving the knowledge they carry.
In this regard, the efforts of Dr. Abdulaziz Al Muftah, President of the Sharjah Heritage Institute and Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the Festival, stand out in preparing for this distinguished event and in consolidating the festival’s presence year after year as a space that brings together storytellers, researchers, specialists, and heritage enthusiasts from around the world.
Sultan Salem Al Hashemi, Director of the Executive Office of the President of the Sharjah Heritage Institute, also deserves full appreciation for his organizational and administrative efforts that support the festival’s activities and ensure the success of its events, alongside the institute’s staff and all participants in this cultural gathering.
