The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, widely known as Emirates LitFest, is the UAE’s flagship literary festival and one of the most prominent cultural events in the region. Organised by the Emirates Literature Foundation, the annual festival brings together writers, poets, journalists and readers from around the world for a programme spanning fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s literature and cultural debate.
Since its launch, LitFest has become a key meeting point for global literary voices and regional talent, offering panel discussions, author talks, workshops and community-led sessions that reflect the UAE’s diverse reading culture. While the programme covers a wide range of genres each year, individual strands are often shaped around specific themes or literary movements.
For 2026, crime writing takes centre stage, with a line-up that moves from courtroom drama and domestic noir to investigative journalism and high-tension suspense. The programme highlights how crime fiction continues to evolve, reflecting social anxieties, power dynamics and the blurred line between truth and storytelling.
This year’s crime programme brings together a diverse mix of voices. Legal thriller heavyweight Scott Turow returns with Presumed Guilty, revisiting the courtroom world that made him a defining figure in the genre. Domestic noir fans can look forward to The Monster Next Door, a session exploring the unsettling idea that danger often hides behind familiar routines, led by Ruth Ware, Louise Candlish and Annabel Kantaria.
Suspense takes an unexpected turn in The Anatomy of Suspense, pairing SAS thriller writer Alex Shaw with Judy Murray, who brings a fresh perspective on tension, pacing and storytelling. Meanwhile, investigative writer Mirna Elmahdy represents a new generation of crime storytelling, connecting true crime with younger audiences through rigorous reporting and narrative clarity.
Together, these sessions reflect how crime writing continues to adapt, entertain and provoke, making Emirates LitFest 2026 a key moment for readers drawn to the darker corners of storytelling.
Emirates LitFest 2026 will take place early in the year from 21 January to 27 January 2026, continuing its tradition as a significant fixture on Dubai’s cultural calendar. Where is Emirates LitFest held
The 18th annual Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will be held at the InterContinental in Festival City.
Visit: emirateslitfest.com
Mariam Khawer is a Dubai-based writer and PR professional whose work spans food, art, and travel across the region. When she isn’t chasing deadlines, she’s likely at a gallery opening, testing out a new restaurant, piecing together one of her mixed-media art projects or at home with her four cats, who keep her on her toes.
