Greece Named Guest of Honour at 44th Sharjah International Book Fair

The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 will honour Greece, celebrating its art, literature, music, and cuisine through diverse cultural showcases.

on Oct 30, 2025

Greece Named Guest of Honour at 44th Sharjah International Book Fair

The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) will, this year, host Greece as its Guest of Honour, transporting a splash of ancient knowledge and contemporary flair to the very heart of the Emirates. During the period from November 5 to 16, 2025, the fair will be transformed into an effervescent Greek celebration of art, literature, music, and cuisine — an echo of the nation's deep cultural heritage and its enduring impact on world thought and education.

Ringed by Greece's presence will be its National Pavilion, a breathtaking 200-square-metre pavilion that draws inspiration from ancient Greek architecture. The pavilion will host 58 publishers and cultural organisations, 28 of which will be present in person, presenting almost 600 titles in Greek and translated versions. A carved olive tree — representing peace, knowledge, and endurance — will be the pavilion's centrepiece, providing people with a peaceful area to meet, read, and ponder.

One of the highlights of Greece's contribution will be the exhibition "Greek Literature – The Long Journey," documenting the history of the development of the Greek language and tradition of storytelling from ancient times to the present day. The exhibition marks Greece's lasting contribution to world literature and intellectual history — from the Homeric epic to modern-day poetry.

More than 70 Greek participants, ranging from renowned writers, poets, translators, scholars, illustrators, and musicians, will contribute their voices to Sharjah. They include Antonios Skiathas, Eugenia Daglas, Eurypidis Garantoudis, Konstantinos Katsoularis, Persa Koumoutsi, Panagiotis Mendis, Danai Siozou, and Anastasia Venetouli — prominent figures in contemporary Greek literature who will anchor readings, panel discussions, and translation dialogues on the crossing of Greek and Arabic cultures.

To further enhance cross-cultural exchange, Greece will also introduce fresh Arabic translations of acclaimed Greek literature — from anthologies of State Prize-winning poetry and novellas to inspirational poetic monologues — presenting Arab readers with a new window into the literary soul of the country.

The experience will go far beyond books. Guests have the chance to be immersed in Greek performance art, such as a wandering theatre production directed by Anastasia Georgaki, Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Combining live music, poetry, and bodily expression, the production guarantees an unbridled sensory experience. There is also another performance by Nikolaos Platanos and Kyriaki Vlachogianni, both inspired by Greek poetry, which will be presenting the fair's opening, and a dramatic performance of Yannis Ritsos's mythic poetry will reconstruct Greek drama tradition.

For the younger public, Greece will also host innovative workshops such as "The Life and Writing Workshop" by Aimilia Bantouna and Mata Gavroglou, where children can venture into the symbols and imagination of Greek heritage — bridging ancient forms of communication such as the Phaistos Disc to contemporary storytelling. Joint workshops between Greek and Emirati artists will also enhance the cultural bonding and creative exchange.

No Greek event would ever be complete without its gastronomic appeal. At SIBF's Cookery Corner, celebrated UAE-based Chef Alexandros Sperchos will present live sessions that encapsulate the art of Greek cuisine — a convergence of tradition, taste, and storytelling through food.

Aside from the cultural exhibitions, Greece's involvement reaches the professional front. Greek publishers will be represented by their international counterparts at the 15th Publishers Conference and the Sharjah International Library Conference, where they will participate in forums of innovation, translation, and reading's future.

Hosted by the Sharjah Book Authority, this year's 44th edition of SIBF is anticipated to attract 2,350 publishers and exhibitors from across 118 nations, and will host over 1,200 activities across literature, learning, and cultural sharing.

With Greece's rich history as its Guest of Honour, SIBF 2025 is sure to be more than a book fair — it will be a living conversation among civilisations, where words, music, and stories still bridge worlds across time.