Sharjah’s Arabic Poetry Festival “22” is set to open on Monday, 5 January 2026, and continue through Sunday, 11 January 2026 across Sharjah City, Khorfakkan, and Kalba. For programme confirmations, the Sharjah Department of Culture can be reached on +971 6 512 3333. The Sharjah House of Poetry is located on Al Arouba Street, Al Shiokh, Sharjah, and can be contacted on +971 6 568 3399. The headline venue for key sessions is Sharjah Cultural Palace on Sheikh Majid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Street, Al Falaj, Sharjah. Dates are fixed for Monday 5 January 2026 through Sunday 11 January 2026.
A week built around live Arabic verse
The festival gathers poets, critics, and readers around live recitations, curated evenings, and discussion-led symposium sessions that look at Arabic poetry’s themes and shifts. Because it runs for a full week, you can treat it like a “pick-your-night” cultural calendar rather than a single appointment. Meanwhile, organisers typically balance formal ceremonies with more intimate poetry evenings, so the experience can feel different depending on the venue. Also, audiences usually include literature students, culture regulars, and visitors who want a Sharjah-style night out without a nightclub vibe. Expect a focused, Arabic-language literary atmosphere throughout the week.
Festival identity and why it matters in Sharjah
Sharjah has positioned this festival as a yearly anchor for Arabic poetry, and it often sits under the wider cultural umbrella that the emirate promotes every season. Over time, it has become a platform where established poets share the stage with newer voices, while critics add context through moderated sessions. At the same time, the programme tends to highlight awards and recognitions, which gives the week a clear sense of momentum. Therefore, even if you only attend one evening, you still feel the “festival energy” rather than a standalone reading. This is a cultural programme first, not a commercial show.
Opening evening at Sharjah Cultural Palace
The opening is scheduled for Monday, 5 January 2026 at Sharjah Cultural Palace, and it typically combines ceremonial moments with performances that set the tone for the week. You can plan your arrival like a theatre night, because the atmosphere is formal and the audience flow can be dense near start time. However, if you prefer a calmer experience, you can instead aim for one of the later poetry evenings at the House of Poetry after the opening-day rush. Also, families sometimes attend the opener for the sense of occasion, although very young children may find long readings challenging. Arrive early for the opening venue, because seating can fill quickly.
Poetry evenings at the Sharjah House of Poetry
Across the week, the House of Poetry in Sharjah often hosts dedicated poetry nights that feel closer and more personal than the palace setting. If you enjoy hearing different regional styles in one sitting, these evenings usually deliver a strong mix, and they suit solo visitors as well as couples (solo, suitable for couples). In addition, the venue’s location makes it easier to add a pre-event coffee or a short walk nearby, so the night can feel less “ceremony” and more “city culture.” That said, the mood stays attentive, so it is better for teens and adults than for restless toddlers (not ideal for very small children). Choose the House of Poetry for a more intimate listening experience.
Awards moments and symposium-style sessions
During the week, the festival also places a spotlight on recognitions tied to poetry and criticism, which can add a different rhythm to your visit. Because award-linked sessions can draw additional guests, you may notice a more formal audience mix, plus media presence on those days. Meanwhile, symposium sessions tend to attract academics and serious readers, so they suit anyone who wants analysis rather than performance. If you want variety, you can attend one poetry evening for emotion and voice, then a symposium session for context and debate. Plan for schedule adjustments on award and symposium days.
Khorfakkan and Kalba options for East Coast visitors
This festival is not limited to Sharjah City, so it can work nicely if you already plan a coastal day in Khorfakkan or a quieter evening in Kalba. If you stay on the East Coast, you can avoid the Sharjah–Dubai traffic corridor entirely and build the festival into a weekend escape. At the same time, drivers should remember that the route crosses mountainous stretches, so you should keep extra buffer time after sunset. Also, if you want the “closing-week feeling,” Kalba often provides a calmer, community-forward setting compared with central Sharjah. Add extra driving time if you attend Khorfakkan or Kalba sessions.
Coming in from Dubai, Ajman, or Abu Dhabi
From Dubai, you can reach central Sharjah quickly on a clear run, yet weekday evenings often slow down, especially near the Sharjah entry corridors. Therefore, if you are driving from Dubai or Ajman, aim to arrive well before peak congestion, and consider an early dinner in Sharjah rather than rushing in at the last moment. From Abu Dhabi, the trip is longer, so a practical approach is to pick one “must-attend” evening and treat it as a late return, or alternatively stay overnight and combine it with a museum morning. Also, ride-hailing can reduce parking stress if you plan to attend a popular night. Avoid the heaviest traffic window by arriving ahead of the evening rush.
Venue access and parking realities
Around major cultural venues, parking can be available yet unpredictable, especially when multiple events run nearby on the same night. If you drive, you should expect a short walk from overflow areas, so comfortable shoes help even for a “dressy” cultural plan. In addition, taxis and ride-hailing can be the easiest last kilometre, particularly if you want to avoid circling for a spot close to the entrance. Public buses exist, yet they may require a final taxi hop depending on your start point, so you should factor that into timing. Parking capacity is limited during headline festival sessions.
WARNINGS AND TIPS CLOSING PARAGRAPH
Sharjah’s forecast for the festival week looks dry and mostly sunny, so mud and rain delays appear unlikely, yet evenings can feel cool after indoor air-conditioning and late exits. On Monday, 5 January 2026, expect approximately 25°C daytime and 19°C at night, while Tuesday, 6 January may still reach about 25°C but can dip near 14°C overnight. Wednesday, 7 January can sit around 22°C and 12°C, and Thursday, 8 January returns near 25°C and 13°C, with Friday, 9 January around 25°C and 14°C. Saturday, 10 January and Sunday, 11 January both hover near 25°C daytime with nights around 14°C and 13°C, so bring a light jacket and avoid overly thin footwear if you walk between parking and entrances. Traffic often peaks in the early evening, so earlier arrival usually feels calmer, and ride-hailing can help if you dislike parking loops; also remember that any door or ticket policy can change and prices, when applicable, remain “approximately.” If organisers release reserved seating or controlled entry, rely on official channels such as SHARJAH DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE and SHARJAH EVENTS for the most dependable ticketing guidance. Leave extra time and aim to arrive early, even on quieter weeknights. As a practical cross-check, the editor notes shared by www.few.ae align with planning this festival like a weeklong cultural calendar, not a one-night outing.
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