Culture in Motion
Tahbib Festival 2026
11 & 12 December 2026
11 Dec · India Club, Oud Metha
12 Dec · Etihad Museum, Dubai
Many voices.
One shared stage.
Tahbib Festival Dubai 2026 is an international literary, arts and cultural festival on 11 and 12 December 2026. The evening programme on 11 December takes place at India Club, Oud Metha, Dubai; the 12 December programme takes place at Etihad Museum, Dubai.
The programme brings together Emirati literature, multilingual poetry, international literary exchange, architecture, heritage, storytelling and cultural dialogue—connecting the UAE, its expatriate communities and international audiences.
Programme details.
Two days of literary dialogue, Emirati poetry, architecture, storytelling and cultural exchange. All times are Dubai local time (GST / UTC+4).
Programme note: speakers, moderators and session allocations are subject to final confirmation. Minor adjustments may be made in coordination with Dubai Culture, participating speakers and venue management.
Cinema, Poetry & Performance
India Club, Oud Metha, Dubai
Evening timings · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tentative running order: the 5:00 PM start, individual session timings and performers are subject to final confirmation. Short transitions are included between sessions.
Film & Cinema Discussion
Participants / performers to be announced
A moderated conversation exploring film, cinema and the art of telling stories on screen.
Mushaira
Participants / performers to be announced
An evening of Urdu poetry and shared literary expression.
Tahbib Voice
Participants / performers to be announced
A dedicated Tahbib Voice segment celebrating creative expression.
Kathak Performance
Participants / performers to be announced
A classical Kathak performance bringing rhythm, movement and storytelling to the stage.
Ghazal Singing
Participants / performers to be announced
A musical finale celebrating the poetry and expression of the ghazal.
Architecture, Literature & Cultural Performances
Etihad Museum, Dubai
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Walter Burley Griffin: Architecture, Heritage & Urban Identity
Atif Haneef
Architecture, heritage and cultural discussion
A commemorative discussion marking Walter Burley Griffin’s 150th birth anniversary, exploring his architectural legacy, heritage preservation, urban planning and cultural identity.
Voice of the Emirates
Mohammed Al Hebsi; Shaikha Al Mutairi; Dr. Shihab Ghanem
Emirati poet and novelist; Emirati poet; poet, translator and author
A celebration of Emirati literature with Arabic poetry recitations, selected English translations and a literary dialogue on the UAE’s poetic heritage and contemporary expression.
The German Way of Seeing
Mudabbar Ahsan; Daniela Tully
Poet; English-language author
An interactive literary conversation exploring German perspectives on poetry, art, literature and life through cultural comparisons and creative dialogue.
The Stories We Inherit
Javed Akhtar; Avni Doshi; Daniela Tully; Deeba Irfan (Moderator)
Poet, lyricist and screenwriter; novelist; English-language authors
An English-language panel on memory, family, cultural identity and storytelling across generations, exploring how inherited stories influence contemporary writing.
Dastangoi: The Art of Storytelling
Syed Sahil Agha
Urdu storyteller
A traditional Urdu storytelling performance bringing classical oral narratives to life through dramatic narration, expressive dialogue and theatrical storytelling.
The Inner Voice: Finding Strength Through Change
Rupa Sharma; Deeba Irfan
Author; English-language author
An English-language conversation on personal transformation, resilience, self-discovery and the power of storytelling in navigating life’s challenges.
Festival Closing Ceremony
Festival representative — to be confirmed
Organising team
Official closing remarks, acknowledgements to guests, speakers and supporting organisations, followed by a vote of thanks.
Speakers & storytellers.
Meet the voices joining this year’s discussions, poetry sessions and storytelling performance.
Poet, lyricist and screenwriter whose work spans Hindi cinema and Urdu poetry.
Emirati poet, novelist and historical researcher.
Urdu poet and writer based in Germany.
Dubai-based writer, poet and author of Urma.
Emirati poet and cultural voice whose work celebrates Arabic literary expression.
Emirati poet, translator and author connecting Arabic and international poetry.
Author of Hotel on Shadow Lake, with a background in film and television.
Novelist and author of Burnt Sugar, shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize.
Indian storyteller specialising in Dastangoi, the oral storytelling tradition in Urdu.
Portrait sources & photo credits
- Javed Akhtar — photo supplied by the festival organiser.
- Imtiaz Ali — Sajid Ali · CC BY-SA 3.0 · display crop · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Avni Doshi — Yuma Martellanz · author website
- Deeba Irfan — Deeba Salim Irfan · official website
- Mohammed Al Hebsi — photo supplied by the festival organiser.
- Dr. Shihab Ghanem — photo supplied by the festival organiser.
- Atif Tauqeer — photo supplied by the festival organiser.
- Syed Sahil Agha — DastanGoi Official · artist profile
- Daniela Tully — Daniela Tully · official author website
- Shaikha Al Mutairi — Emarat Al Youm · poetry event portrait
- Atif Haneef — photo supplied by the festival organiser; poster text removed through layout crop.
- Rupa Sharma — photo supplied by the festival organiser.
- Mudabbar Ahsan — photo supplied by the festival organiser; original face preserved with layout crop.
Portraits are displayed with layout crops. Attendance remains subject to confirmation.
Guests & VIPs.
Distinguished guests and cultural voices joining Tahbib Festival Dubai 2026.
H.E. Mr. Showkutally Soodhun, G.C.S.K.
Former Vice Prime Minister
Republic of Mauritius
Javed Akhtar
Renowned Bollywood lyricist
Poet, lyricist and screenwriter whose work spans Hindi cinema and Urdu poetry.
Atif Haneef
Prominent author
Imtiaz Ali
Prominent film director
Indian film director and screenwriter known for character-driven storytelling.
Culture brings us together.
Dubai · 11 & 12 December 2026Tahbib Festival
2026
Poetry. Literature. Arts. Connection.
Discover the event ＋
Tahbib Festival
2026
Poetry. Literature. Arts. Connection.
Discover the event ＋A celebration of culture and shared discovery.
Tahbib Festival 2026 brings its cultural and educational spirit to Dubai on 11 and 12 December 2026. Rooted in poetry, literature and the arts, Tahbib creates space for ideas, meaningful conversations and connections across languages and communities.
Discover a new chapter where creative expression meets curiosity, and heritage opens a conversation with the future. Explore the programme above. Speakers, moderators and session allocations remain subject to final confirmation. Venues: 11 December — India Club, Oud Metha; 12 December — Etihad Museum, Dubai.
Get your passes: the official booking link will be shared when available. Until then, explore the 2026 edition or contact the festival team for enquiries.
Your next
chapter awaits.
Join the next Tahbib Festival in Dubai on 11 & 12 December 2026. Explore the edition page for updates and pass information.
Tahbib Festival 2026 →When is Tahbib Festival 2026?
The next Dubai edition is on 11 and 12 December 2026.
Where will the festival take place?
11 December: India Club, Oud Metha, Dubai. 12 December: Etihad Museum, Dubai. Further arrival information will be shared by the organisers.
How can I get passes?
The booking link will be added to the 2026 edition page when available. You can contact the team for pass enquiries.
View pass information →Are the speakers and timings confirmed?
The programme and timings are listed above. Speakers, moderators and session allocations remain subject to final confirmation.
Can my organisation collaborate?
We welcome cultural, educational and partnership conversations. Contact connect@tahbibglobal.com to introduce your organisation and explore opportunities.
Let’s create
something meaningful.
For cultural partnerships, educational collaborations, sponsorship enquiries or participation, start a conversation with the Tahbib team.
Explore a partnership →