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The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) today announced, during a comprehensive media briefing, the launch of the 26th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum 2026, scheduled to take place from September 23 to 27 under the theme “Stories of Friends.” The event will bring together more than 120 narrators, researchers and participants from 28 countries in a global cultural gathering that celebrates oral heritage, highlights the role of narrators, and opens new avenues for cultural communication and dialogue among peoples through storytelling.

The announcement was made in the presence of H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, President of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Chairman of the Forum’s Supreme Committee, and Aisha Rashid Al Hosson Al Shamsi, General Coordinator of the Forum.

Friendship: A Universal Value Across Cultures

The theme “Stories of Friends” was chosen to highlight friendship as a shared human value that transcends societies and cultures, and its enduring presence in folktales, biographies, proverbs, stories and inherited human experiences.

Through its new edition, the Forum continues to strengthen its position as an international platform bringing together narrators, researchers and cultural institutions from around the world, using storytelling as a medium for cultural dialogue and human connection.

Finland as Guest of Honour

The Republic of Finland will be the Guest of Honour of the 26th edition, reflecting the Forum’s commitment to engaging with international experiences in storytelling and oral traditions, while providing audiences and researchers with an opportunity to explore Finland’s rich narrative heritage and distinctive cultural identity.

Finland’s participation embodies the concept of cultural friendship at the heart of this year’s edition. It offers an opportunity to discover Finnish culture and oral heritage alongside presentations of aspects of Arab and Gulf storytelling traditions, while exploring areas of convergence and difference between the two cultures.

The participation also underscores the idea that friendship among peoples does not depend on complete similarity, but rather on mutual understanding, respect for differences, acceptance of the other’s culture, and the pursuit of shared human values.

“Kalevala”: From Oral Tradition to Written Heritage

The Finnish epic “Kalevala” will be one of the key highlights of Finland’s participation, given its prominent place in Finnish cultural and literary heritage and its strong links to oral traditions and folk storytelling.

The epic holds particular significance within the Forum’s programme as a model for examining the transition of heritage from oral transmission to written form, as well as the role of narrators and bearers of tradition in preserving cultural heritage and passing it from one generation to another.

The presentation of “Kalevala” will also provide an opportunity to compare Finnish and Arab storytelling traditions and explore themes, values, characters and symbols that reveal common dimensions of the human experience despite differences in cultural and geographical settings.

Celebrating Influential Figures in Storytelling and Culture

The 26th edition will honour a number of figures whose experiences have contributed to storytelling, culture and the transmission of knowledge across generations.

The Forum will honour Jarno Peltonen of the Republic of Finland as the Honorary Figure of the 26th edition, in recognition of his experience and the representation of Finnish culture throughout this year’s programme.

The Forum will also honour renowned Bahraini artist Mohammed Yaseen, known as “Baba Yaseen,” as the Distinguished Personality of the Edition, in recognition of his artistic and cultural career and his enduring connection with generations in Bahrain and the Gulf region.

28 Countries and a Diverse International Presence

The 26th edition will feature more than 120 participants from 28 countries, including Finland, Kenya, Italy, Germany, Spain, Mauritania, Tunisia, Canada, Morocco, Iraq, Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Senegal, Romania, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

This broad geographical representation reflects the Forum’s expanding international reach and its ability to attract storytelling and cultural experiences from diverse environments, further strengthening dialogue and cultural exchange through the art of storytelling.

Universities and Cultural Institutions at the Heart of the Event

The programme will bring together a range of cultural centres, universities and academic institutions, including the University of Sharjah, American University of Sharjah, Kalevala Society, Higher Institute of Folk Arts in Egypt, International Academy Maghreb of Storytelling for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Rabat, University of Turin in Italy, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, and the Arab Heritage Archive Foundation.

A number of government entities and local institutions will also participate, including the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah Volunteer Work Award, Sharjah Museums Authority, Sharjah Social Services Department, Sharjah Libraries, Sharjah Police, Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, and Quarter of a Century Foundation for Developing Leaders and Innovators.

Exhibitions, Workshops and a Diverse Academic Programme

The 26th edition will feature the “Stories of Friends” exhibition, alongside “Stories of Friends… As Told by Artefacts,” an interactive exhibition that presents storytelling through collections and artefacts, portraying them as ambassadors of culture beyond borders.

The Forum’s agenda includes more than 60 workshops throughout the event, in addition to a series of pre-event workshops, including 21 workshops held as part of the Narrator Summer Camp and the Narrator Storytelling Programme, further supporting efforts to nurture a new generation of narrators and storytellers.

The Forum will also present more than 30 publications, while its academic programme will feature a wide range of lectures, specialised seminars, dialogue sessions and a cultural café, in addition to a dedicated signing area for the Forum’s publications.

Storytelling: A Bridge of Friendship Among Peoples

The 26th edition seeks to present friendship as a bridge and a broad human and cultural space, using storytelling as a means of fostering understanding among peoples and cultures.

The programme highlights the idea that cultural differences are not barriers to friendship, but rather gateways to knowledge, dialogue, rapprochement and cultural exchange. Storytelling thus becomes a bridge connecting the past with the present and bringing together diverse cultures.

It is worth noting that the Institute began its pre-event programme for the 26th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum last August with the launch of the “Narrator Storytelling Preparation Programme.” The initiative aims to discover new talents in the arts of storytelling and narrative and prepare them to participate in the Forum’s activities.