Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO-recognized city of Taif set to host 2026 Writers & Readers Festival

he Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission announced that the third edition of the Writers & Readers Festival will be held in the city of Taif from January 9 to January 15, 2026, under the theme “Your Presence Matters.”

The selection of the city of Taif comes as an extension of its distinguished cultural standing, as a city listed within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and as the first Creative City of Literature in the Kingdom. This status reflects Taif’s deep historical and cultural significance and its well-established presence in Saudi Arabia’s literary memory, granting the festival a distinctive dimension that brings together the authenticity of place and the modernity of experience, while strengthening the connection of generations with culture and knowledge.

The festival’s program will feature a diverse lineup of literary programs, intellectual discussions, and open literary dialogues. In addition, the festival will include innovative educational and youth-focused activities aimed at children and young adults, designed to foster a love of reading from an early age through rich cultural content that combines education and entertainment.

The organization of the third edition of the Writers & Readers Festival comes amid the growing cultural momentum witnessed in the Kingdom and the opening of new horizons for creativity and artistic expression. Through the festival, the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission seeks to celebrate writers and readers as the most essential pillar in the cultural production value chain, as part of its ongoing efforts to develop the cultural sector.