Beirut:The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan Chair for Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American University of Beirut (AUB), along with AUB Press and the university's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, is presenting a comprehensive program of eighteen sessions at the 67th Beirut Arab International Book Fair.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, the program aims to integrate the university into the cultural life of Beirut by participating in the book fair, one of the oldest in the Arab world. Over eight days, participants including novelists, poets, critics, publishers, physicians, and university leaders from Lebanon and across the Arab region engage with Beirut's readers. AUB faculty and recent graduates of its Arabic program moderate many of the sessions, fostering dialogue between established writers and a new generation of scholars.
Discussions throughout the week explore themes of history and storytelling. Algerian novelist Waciny Laredj, in dialogue with Dr. Tarek El-Ariss from Dartmouth College, examines Algeria's colonial past. Reem Bassiouney introduces her novel "Kom al-Nur," and Moroccan novelist Tarik Bakkari discusses identity and heritage in his work. Other sessions focus on the impact of literary prizes, the evolution of Arabic literature, and the role of publishing, with input from notable figures such as Najwa Barakat and Dar al-Adab CEO Rana Idris.
The program also features poetry readings, a session on Mahmoud Darwish's poetry, and cultural performances. Beyond literature, it delves into topics like European art through a medical lens and the future of higher education in the Arab world. Dr. Tarek El-Ariss shares his memoir of life during the Lebanese Civil War, and Dr. Simon A. Kachar discusses political reform in Lebanon. The week concludes with a presentation of oral histories from Ras Beirut, accompanied by book signings.
The event is scheduled from October 9 to 16, 2026, at the Seaside Arena on the Beirut Waterfront. Further details and the complete schedule are available online.