News DeskDubai, UAE – The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the largest celebration of stories and ideas in the region, is set to return from 31 January to 6 February 2024 at the Intercontinental, Dubai Festival City. The 16th edition promises to gather some of the world’s most renowned writers, creators, and thought leaders, offering a platform for enlightenment and inspiration through new events and experiences.
American poet, essayist, and playwright Claudia Rankine, recipient of the 2015 Foreward Prize and the PEN Open Book Award, will be among the distinguished guests. Also gracing the event is Silicon Valley entrepreneur Tony Fadell, known as the father of the iPod and founder of Nest, who authored “Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making.”
BookTok sensations Curtis Sittenfeld and Rebecca Yarros will make their regional debut, captivating audiences with their respective works, “Romantic Comedy” and “Fourth Wing.” Award-winning translator Anton Hur, famous for translating Korean to English, particularly with his work on “I Went to See My Father, Cursed Bunny,” and an upcoming biography on the k-pop sensation BTS, will also be present.
Other notable participants include Francesca Cartier Brickell, a direct descendant of the Cartier family and author of “The Cartiers: The Untold Story of a Jewelry Dynasty,” as well as novelist Miral Al-Tahawy, whose work “Tales from Town of Rising Sun” was shortlisted for the 2023 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
The festival will feature LitFest Afterhours, Discovery Talks, LitFest Families, and Youth Day, catering to diverse interests and age groups. LitFest After Hours promises a vibrant mix of performances, games, activities, and food from Thursday to Sunday. Discovery Talks, a series of free lectures, will cover topics ranging from the Spiderverse to Chinese mythology, providing intriguing perspectives.
LitFest Families aims to engage young readers with a weekend filled with dragon tales, superhero adventures, teen spies, and poetry. Youth Day invites university and high school students to participate in curated events covering themes such as artificial intelligence, literature, business, sustainability, all with a focus on Arabic culture.
Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of Emirates Literature Foundation, expressed excitement about the upcoming festival, emphasizing its role in celebrating human connection through diverse narratives.
Tickets for the event will be available for purchase on 14 December 2023, coinciding with the announcement of the full speaker lineup and festival program. The public is encouraged to join the Foundation Friends loyalty program, offering a 20% discount on all ticket categories, priority booking, reserved seating, access to the Foundation Friends Lounge, and exclusive event invitations throughout the year.
