The 2026 Dubai edition of Big Bad Wolf Books Dubai has concluded after drawing large crowds and offering more than one million books at Dubai Studio City.
The book fair, held under the theme “beyond noise”, focused on promoting reading across different age groups. Organisers said the event aimed to encourage reading habits and make books more accessible to the public.
Andrew Yap, Co-Founder and CEO of Big Bad Wolf Books, said: “We are happy to deliver a remarkable showcase this time with the highest participation in the history of the Big Bad Wolf. This year’s edition placed renewed emphasis on reading as a tool for focus, learning, and personal growth in an increasingly distracted world. Beyond the scale of the sale, the event underscored the role of books in shaping creativity, encouraging expression, and building lasting reading habits.”
He added: “Reading is where ideas begin, but what’s equally important is what people choose to do with those ideas. Programmes like STAGE WRITE at the book fair initiated that next step, encouraging people to create, express, and share their voices. When a story moves from the page to a live performance, it shows how powerful reading can be as a starting point for creativity and real-world impact.”
Reading trends
According to Yap, visitors showed strong interest in children’s books, including board and activity titles, reflecting a focus on early learning and reduced screen time. Fiction and young adult books were also popular among teenagers and young professionals.
He said: “Overall, the diversity of the offering encouraged readers to explore across genres, with many visitors actively discovering new titles and building personal libraries rather than shopping with a fixed list.”
Workshops held
Workshops and storytelling sessions were held alongside the book fair, attracting strong participation. Yap said: “We offered visitors opportunities to engage more deeply with stories. From guided writing sessions to live storytelling experiences for young adults and adults alike, these programmes reinforced reading as an interactive and shared experience rather than a solitary activity.”
The STAGE WRITE 2026 workshop featured a 48-hour playwriting challenge, with the winning entry set to be staged at X Fest 2026 in collaboration with The Junction.
The event also focused on affordability, with book prices starting from Dhs2 and discounts of up to 95 per cent. Organisers said this approach is aimed at helping families build home libraries and improving access to reading materials.
The Dubai edition is part of the global Big Bad Wolf Books initiative, which promotes reading through large-scale book sales and community-focused programmes.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
