Sharjah Conference for Animation and Comics Kicks Off on October 22
- Lasts for 4 days at "Al Jada" and brings together creators and experts from the region and the world
The Sharjah Book Authority has set the dates from October 22 to 25, 2026, for the fourth edition of the "Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference" to take place in the "Al Jada" area in Sharjah. This edition will expand the conference’s scope to encompass broader fields of visual storytelling, bringing together animation and comics, and opening new spaces for networking and collaboration among creators, publishers, and producers from the region and around the world.
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This expansion reflects a trend toward integrating interconnected fields within the visual storytelling industry under a single platform. The inclusion of comics broadens the participant base to include authors, illustrators, and publishers, alongside animators and producers, thereby creating new pathways for collaboration and project development across various disciplines.
The program of this edition translates this direction through new initiatives, foremost among them the "Animation and Comics Market," which aims to strengthen professional relationships and partnerships among industry stakeholders.
The fourth edition will bring together a select group of creators, experts, and specialists in animation and comics from the region and the world. The program combines knowledge-based content with practical experience, allowing participants to benefit from diverse professional expertise and experiences, develop their skills and projects, and explore the latest trends and practices in these fields.
Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, stated that the Arab region is rich with talents capable of creating characters, stories, and visual worlds rooted in their culture and competitive on a global scale. He noted that these talents require an ecosystem that connects creativity with knowledge, expertise, production, and the market.
He added that the evolution of the "Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference" is not limited to expanding the scope of an event, but aims to build a space that brings together stakeholders in this industry, helping creators develop their ideas and transform them into projects capable of reaching audiences and growing.
For her part, Khawla Al Majeni, Conference Director, stated that the 2026 edition represents a new stage in the conference’s trajectory, reflecting a trend toward expanding the opportunities available to creators across various fields of visual storytelling.
She added that integrating comics with animation under a single identity broadens the range of expertise and disciplines gathered by the conference, from scriptwriters and illustrators to animators, publishers, and producers. This creates a wider space for exchanging expertise, developing ideas and projects, and opening new pathways for collaboration and professional growth for creators.
Al Majeni emphasized that talent is merely the starting point, but building a career in creative industries requires knowledge, expertise, relationships, and the ability to access opportunities. She explained that the new edition focuses on developing creators’ tools and their ability to present their projects, build professional relationships, and connect their work with new opportunities and markets.
