Kuwait International Book Fair Kicks Off Nov 18 with 592 Entities from 34 Countries

- Qatar to be Guest of Honor at the 49th Edition... Featuring 248,000 Titles, Including 22,700 New Releases and Over 60 Cultural Activities

The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters announced on Monday the launch of the 49th edition of the Kuwait International Book Fair, scheduled to take place from November 18 to 28 at the International Exhibition Area in Mishref, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister.

In a press statement, the Council clarified that the upcoming edition will be held under the slogan "We Read... We Ascend," with participation from 592 entities representing 34 Arab and foreign countries. The fair will open at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

The Council noted that Qatar will serve as the Guest of Honor for this edition, reflecting the solid fraternal relations between Qatar and Kuwait and enhancing cultural cooperation between the two countries. Qatar will participate through a pavilion showcasing its intellectual and literary output, alongside presenting a number of cultural activities that highlight the diversity of its cultural landscape.

The fair will feature 248,094 titles, including 22,772 new releases for 2026. Kuwaiti publications account for 13,530 titles, of which 1,546 are new. Children’s books comprise 42,205 titles, including 3,042 new releases, offering diverse options for various ages and interests.

This edition will see participation from 19 Arab countries and 15 foreign countries, along with the addition of 32 new participants. The fair will honor Dr. Khalifa Al-Waqian as the Personality of the Edition, in recognition of his cultural career. Additionally, Halls 5, 6, and 7 have been named after poet Abdullah Al-Faraj, poet Moudi Al-Obeidi, and historian Ahmad Al-Busr Al-Rumai, to commemorate their legacies and honor their contributions to Kuwaiti culture.

Spanning an area of 20,000 square meters, the fair features Hall 5 hosting Arab publishers, Hall 6 hosting Kuwaiti, Gulf, and foreign publishers, and Hall 7 housing government entities, regional organizations, and public benefit associations. The fair’s lobby will host children’s book publishers.

The event will be accompanied by over 60 cultural activities, including intellectual seminars, poetry evenings, workshops, and cultural meetings at the Cultural Café. It will also include activities targeted at children and youth, as well as diverse programs for various segments of society, including people of determination.

The Council highlighted the Professional Program for Arab Publishers within the fair’s activities, which covers topics such as intellectual property, legal aspects, marketing, distribution, technology, artificial intelligence, financial management, business development, and partnerships.

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

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