Supplied Celebrating 15 years of enthralling storytelling, the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature will return in February 2023 with a starry lineup including ‘Succession’s Brian Cox, master storytellers Cecelia Ahern, Mohsin Hamid, Alexander McCall Smith and Indian politician Shashi Tharoor.
They’ll be joined by renowned religious commentator Reza Aslan, Malaysian journalist and activist Marina Mahathir, notable Bahraini poet Qasim Haddad and Emirati author and poet Maisoon Saker Al Qassimi.
The line-up – one of the most diverse line-ups of any literary event in the world, representing almost 50 different nationalities – was revealed at a special ceremony at the Mohamed Bin Rashid Library.
And, in a first for the festival, a guest curator, poet and author Lemn Sissay, will bring his own inimitable flair to selected events.
Ahlam Bolooki, Festival Director for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, expressed pride at the “amazing line-up”.
Many of the 250 writers and thinkers are returning to Dubai as “old friends”, reflecting this year’s festival theme.
The festival will run from February 1-6, 2023, at two venues – InterContinental Dubai Festival City and Mohammed bin Rashid Library – connected by “an abra service”.
Ticket prices start at AED 25, with a 15 per cent discount for general session tickets in a special early bird anniversary offer from November 15, 2022 – December 15, 2022.
Also new this year are day-long, weekend, student and publishing day passes starting at AED 199. And an all-access Crystal Pass with exclusive entry to the Green Room. Also returning is the Festival Fringe, with a host of fun free events and performances for all the family.
For the full list of authors, head here.
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