Ben Miller-How I Became a Dog Called Midnight

Now in its 16th year, it will run from January 31 to February 6. From history lovers to fiction fanatics, there is something for everyone, and authors will be on hand to inspire and interact with fans.

Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman and Other, is among the line-up with Curtis Sittenfeld, author of Romantic Comedy, and Rebecca Yarros, author of the bestseller Fourth Wing, joining her on the schedule.

Evaristo, a British author and academic, will be in conversation with American poet, essayist and playwright Claudia Rankine talking about the power of literature.
Evaristo, who has written five volumes of poetry, two plays and a number of essays, will join Rankine to discuss the power of culture to explore the issues of race and power.

Polly Dunbar-RAWR! A Lion is a Lion

Arab talent will as always, feature strongly. Egyptian graphic novelist Deena Mohamed, author of Shubeik Lubeik, will be in attendance along with Palestinian American author Hala Alyan, known for her novel Salt Houses, and renowned Emirati artist Fatma Lootah.

Celebrating the life of Palestinian, poet, writer and novelist Mahmoud Darwish, in a special event, Palestinian poet Dana Dajani will be joined by performers from across the Arab world, such as musician Ammar Ashkar and theatre performance artist Jad Hakawati.

Arabic speakers can engage with author and poet Ali Abu Al Reesh. His novel The Confession is considered one of the top hundred most important Arabic novels of the century.

From art to food and religion, culture forms a huge part of one’s cultural identity and during the festival, author Aanchal Malhotra, filmmaker Nadir Nahdi and academic Martin Puchner will lead a session titled ‘How does culture influence our identity?’

New experiences at this year’s event include ‘LitFest After Hours’, a range of performances, games, activities, and food after the sun has gone down from February 1 to 4.

Book lovers can attend a series of free lectures called Discovery Talks touching a range of topics from culture to language, AI to art.

And for the little readers, LitFest Families will showcase a range of children’s storytellers and illustrators from across the UAE.

For more information, click here.