Winners to be announced during the opening ceremony of the 45th edition of the fair
Sharjah : With a total prize fund of AED 625,000 across 10 categories, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has opened nominations for the Sharjah International Book Fair Awards 2026, recognising outstanding achievements in writing and publishing, spotlighting Emirati and Arab talent, and supporting the presence of distinguished books locally and internationally.
The awards cover novels, studies, poetry and foreign books, while also honouring local, Arab and international publishing houses.
Nominations are open until August 31. Entry forms and eligibility criteria are available at https://sibf.com/ar/awards. Winners will be announced during the opening ceremony of the 45th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Reflecting the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the awards celebrate literary and intellectual achievement while encouraging a new generation of writers, publishers and researchers. They also align with the authority’s efforts, under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, to bolster Sharjah’s status as a global hub for books and publishing.
The annual awards comprise four main categories. They include the Sharjah Award for Emirati Books, the Sharjah Award for the Best Arabic Novel, the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book, and the Sharjah Publisher Recognition Award. The award covers books published in 2025 and 2026, except for the Best Emirati Creative Literature Book (Poetry), which is open to works published between 2024 and 2026.
Sharjah Award for Emirati Books
The Sharjah Award for Emirati Books recognises outstanding literary and academic works by Emirati authors and publishers across four categories, with a total prize fund of AED 300,000. Prizes of AED 100,000 each will be awarded for the Best Emirati Novel and Best Emirati Academic Book, while the Best Emirati Creative Literature Book (Poetry) and the Best Emirati First Novel will each receive AED 50,000.
Sharjah Award for the Best Arabic Novel
The Sharjah Award for the Best Arabic Novel carries a prize of AED 150,000, shared equally between the author and publisher. It recognises original works that combine literary excellence with thoughtful engagement with contemporary issues in the Arab world.
Sharjah Award for the Best International Book
Open to books published in English, the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book carries a total prize of AED 100,000, divided equally between the Best International Fiction Book and the Best International Non-Fiction Book categories.
Sharjah Publisher Recognition Award
The Sharjah Publisher Recognition Award carries a total prize of AED 75,000, with AED 25,000 awarded to each of the Best Local Publishing House, Best Arabic Publishing House and Best International Publishing House categories.
Nomination guidelines
Applicants can complete the nomination form on the awards’ online platform, print it, and send three copies of the nominated book to the Sharjah Book Authority, ensuring the copies arrive before the deadline 31 August.
SBA invites writers, researchers, publishers and translators to take part in the awards, which have established their presence as a platform for recognising creativity and knowledge, while strengthening Sharjah’s position as a global destination for culture, books and publishing.