Sharjah Animation And Comics Conference 2026 Expands With Market, Workshops And Arab Creators Census

Sharjah will deepen its role in global culture with the newly named Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC), which evolves from the Sharjah Animation Conference. The 2026 edition will run from 26th to 29th March 2026 and will introduce an ‘Animation and Comics Market’ to widen commercial prospects for regional and international creators.

SACC 2026 will occupy a venue three times larger than the 2025 space, reflecting rising demand from artists and companies. The expanded layout will include larger exhibition halls, multiple big stages, extra practical workshops, and more immersive activations, giving professionals and emerging talent wider access to skills, audiences, and business discussions.

Organised every year by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference is now one of the region’s key meeting points for illustrators, animators, publishers, producers, and new creators. The May 2025 edition attracted more than 5,000 visitors from different markets and hosted over 70 international experts examining how AI-driven tools interact with human creativity.

The Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference will also widen its role as a knowledge platform. SACC will introduce more hands-on sessions and curated conversations focused on production, financing, distribution, and rights management. These additions are designed to support sustainable careers for artists and to help regional studios and publishers connect with global partners and investors.

As part of an expanded mandate, the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference will launch an official census of Arab illustrators, authors, artists, animators, and other creatives active across the Middle East and North Africa. The initiative will create the first structured map of the region’s creative community, inviting all Arab creators to help build a connected, long-term Arab creative ecosystem.

Information gathered through the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference census will give policymakers, investors, and institutions clearer insight into skills, needs, and opportunities. This database aims to support targeted programmes, training, and funding schemes, while also helping international partners understand the scale and diversity of talent across Arabic-speaking markets.

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Khoula Al Mujaini, Executive Director of SACC, stated that the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference continues to advance the cultural vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, guided by H.H Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA). "Sharjah has always believed in the power of creativity to drive knowledge, innovation, and cultural exchange. Through the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference, we are not only connecting creators from across the region and the world, but also nurturing a vibrant ecosystem where Arab talent can thrive, collaborate, and shine on the global stage. SACC 2026 represents our commitment to building a future where storytelling and imagination shape industries, inspire communities, and elevate the region’s creative voice internationally," she said.

The 2026 Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference will therefore function as both a marketplace and a knowledge centre, while the new Arab creatives census will give structure to a scattered sector. Together, these steps support Sharjah’s long-term goal of strengthening cultural industries and amplifying Arab storytelling within regional and global creative economies.

With inputs from WAM