Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival 2026: Second Edition Set To Open At ADNEC Centre

The Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival will return to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 9th to 11th February 2026, offering a large public programme dedicated to Nabati and Classical Arabic poetry. The event is organised by Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and is designed to support cultural participation across the UAE and the wider region.

The second edition takes place under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The festival aligns with Abu Dhabi’s cultural strategy, which prioritises heritage sustainability and the long-term presence of Arabic poetic forms.

Through this edition, Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority aims to expand participation and attendance, with a special focus on children and youth. The festival seeks to strengthen poetic culture within the community, encourage engagement with literature, and help younger generations connect again with Arabic linguistic and literary traditions.

The programme highlights Abu Dhabi’s role in supporting cultural and heritage movements across the Arab world. It also positions the emirate as a global hub for poets and creative talent, and as a supporter of purposeful creative content spanning multiple cultural and heritage fields linked to Arabic poetry and performance.

The festival will include several interactive zones and themed sections that address different audiences. Key elements are the Poetry Bridge, the UAE Poetry Map, the Young Poet Corner, the Emirati Women Poets Corner, the Performing Arts Platform, and the Poetry Café, alongside additional spaces tailored for discussion, performance, and audience interaction.

The event will spotlight leading poets and their bodies of work, while also mapping the contemporary Emirati poetic scene. Scholars and specialists in classical and Nabati poetry will share expertise, supporting knowledge exchange. The festival will also show Abu Dhabi’s contribution to the development of Arabic poetry and its artistic expression, while nurturing talent locally and regionally.

The inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival drew poets from across the UAE, the GCC, and the broader Arab region. More than 1,000 poets, writers, and researchers took part, and over 15,000 visitors attended, underlining strong interest in structured poetry platforms and heritage-focused literary events.

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The 2026 Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival continues this trajectory by combining heritage preservation with accessible public programming. With a wider range of zones, and renewed emphasis on youth engagement, the festival is set to deepen knowledge of Nabati and Classical Arabic poetry while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position within regional cultural networks.

With inputs from WAM