Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair 2026 Brings Together 110 Publishers in Berlin

The fourth Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair in Berlin brought together 110 publishers from the Arab world and Germany, featuring Arabic literature, translation, digital publishing and cultural exchange.
on Oct 19, 2026

Fourth Edition of the Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair Welcomes 110 Publishing Houses from the Arab Countries and Germany

The fourth edition of the Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair welcomed 110 publishing houses from Arab countries and Germany to Berlin as a platform for Arabic literature and publishing. The Arab Cultural House, Al Diwan, organised this three-day fair which was held in Berlin from 16 to 18 October, 2026.

The event drew together writers, translators, publishers, researchers and representatives of the culture as visitors could have a chance to see a variety of Arabic books in literary, scientific and cultural fields.

Literature and Cultural Exchange on the Main Stage

This ceremony was participated in by the Ambassador of Qatar to Germany, as well as Chairperson of the Al Diwan Trust Board, Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al Hamar, Director of the Doha International Book Fair, Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain, Secretary General of the Arab Publishers Association, Bachar Chebaro, and Christina Beinhoff from the German Foreign Office.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Al Hamar pointed out the importance of investing in books and knowledge in order to foster understanding among societies.

Arabic-German Translation and Digital Publishing

Among the topics covered at the fair were Arabic-German literary translation, current publishing issues, and the impact of book fairs on cultural exchange on an international level.

Other sessions focused on Arabic literature in the Gulf region, Arabic manuscripts, and the impact of digitalization on literature. The participants had the chance to look at current trends and find ways to introduce Arabic literature to wider audiences.

There was also a poetry session and sessions about the role of cultural institutions in fostering dialogues between different societies.

Qatari Writers and Their Contribution to Cultural Heritage

Writers and other literary personalities from Qatar were involved in some events held during the fair. Digital literature and new publishing was discussed in one of the sessions, where the writer Shamma Shaheen Al Kuwari was involved. The poet Abdulrahman Al Dulaimi took part in a poetry session.

There was also a focus on the maritime culture of Qatar through a session that investigated the impact of this maritime culture on the cultural identity of Qatar. One of the components of this fair also included Arabic manuscripts, which were organised with the help of the Berlin State Library.

There was also the presentation of the 2026 Riwaq Prize for Science and Culture organised by Al Diwan in cooperation with the Orient-Institut Beirut.

Extending the Global Presence of Arabic Literature

The Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair is an indication of continued efforts being made to increase the representation of Arabic literature in Germany and promote interactions between publishers, readers and cultural institutions.

By convening 110 publishing companies along with literary discourse sessions and activities in relation to translation and cultural exchange, the Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair offered the opportunity for increased collaboration between the Arab and German publishers community. The continuous development of the fair since its inception in 2023 is an indication of the importance of book fairs in facilitating literary exchanges.