Venue
Saudi Arabia
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Riyadh International Book Fair guide
Ten days of publishers in Riyadh.
In short
Readers and publishing professionals can plan on the Riyadh International Book Fair from Thursday 10 to Saturday 19 December 2026, a move from its usual early-October slot. Run by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, it fills the halls with publishers' stands, author talks and workshops. Arabic titles dominate, though some stands carry other languages.
Saudi Arabia's biggest book event fills ten days in the capital with publishers' stands, author talks and workshops. The Riyadh International Book Fair, run by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, takes place from Thursday 10 to Saturday 19 December 2026. That is a change of season: the 2025 fair was held in early October.
It ranks among the largest book fairs in the Arab world. In 2025 more than 2,000 Saudi and international publishing houses and agencies from over 25 countries took part, with Uzbekistan as guest of honour.
Arabic titles dominate, but a fair number of stands sell English and other foreign-language books.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Ends: Saturday, 19 December 2026
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Held: Every year
Type of event: Cultural Events, Exhibition, Fair
Nearest airport: Riyadh (RUH) · 1 flight route
Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR, ﷼)
Time zone: UTC+3, no daylight saving
Language: Arabic
Map
Close to the venue
- National Museum of Saudi Arabia Attraction · 1.7 km
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
December 2026 dates and daily hours
The commission announced the 10 to 19 December dates in September 2026, when it opened registration for local and international publishers. Daily hours and the 2026 guest of honour were still to be announced in mid-October.
The guest country always brings its own pavilion, usually with crafts and performances alongside the books.
The 2026 venue and the previous location
No venue had been named for 2026 by mid-October. The 2025 fair used the campus of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in northern Riyadh, which has large exhibition halls and plenty of parking. Watch the commission's announcements in November for the final location and opening hours.
Talks, workshops and the Saudi Authors Corner
- Talks and workshops
- panels and lectures with Saudi and international writers and academics.
- Saudi Authors Corner
- a space where self-published local writers present and sell their work.
- A children's pavilion runs hands-on programmes and creative workshops for younger readers.
Carrying purchases and avoiding busy times
Go on a weekday morning if you can. Weekend evenings bring families out in force and the aisles get crowded.
Many stands discount their books for the fair, so a sturdy bag, or even a small wheeled trolley, is a good idea. Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for smaller stalls. December evenings in Riyadh turn cool, and a light jacket helps between halls. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
From the airport and around northern Riyadh
King Khalid International Airport is about 35 km north of the centre, so the northern districts are a fairly short drive from arrivals. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to the fairground.
The fair overlaps with the last weeks of Riyadh Season, so an evening at Boulevard World or a concert can follow a day of browsing. Our guide to museums in Saudi Arabia and our list of places to visit in Saudi Arabia fill out the trip; the latter includes Diriyah, the old mud-brick capital on the city's edge.
Weekday mornings, weekend evenings and buying books
The fair is a big, busy event, so a little planning makes it much easier. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to browse, while weekend evenings bring families and the heaviest crowds. If you expect to leave with a stack of books, bring a strong bag or a small trolley, as plenty of stands sell at fair discounts.
Cards are widely accepted, but keep some cash for the smaller stalls. Our Saudi Arabia travel guide has ideas for the rest of your stay.
The fair's scale and place in the Arab publishing world
No book event in Saudi Arabia is bigger, and it counts among the most important in the Arab world. In 2025 over 2,000 publishing houses and agencies, Saudi and foreign, came from more than 25 countries. Uzbekistan was guest of honour that year. Each guest nation builds its own pavilion of books and crafts, with performances.
Most of what is on sale is in Arabic. Some stands carry English titles. Beyond the shopping there is a programme of lectures and workshops, a Saudi Authors Corner for self-published local writers, and a children's pavilion with creative sessions for young readers.
Getting there
Before you fly
Check entry rules on our Saudi Arabia visa page.
From the airport
King Khalid International is about 35 km north of the centre, so the northern districts are a fairly short ride away.
To the fair
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to the fairground. Check the final location before you set out.
Where to stay during the festival
If the fair returns to the northern campus used in 2025, a hotel in north Riyadh keeps the ride short and close to the airport road.
Riyadh
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$480.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
5 Rooms available
Book Now
Weather and what to pack
December in Riyadh is mild and dry: average highs of about 22°C and lows around 9-11°C, with very little rain. Evenings between halls can feel cool.
Worth packing
- A light jacket for evenings
- Modest clothes covering shoulders and knees
- A strong bag or small trolley for books
- Some cash for smaller stalls
Flights to Riyadh for Riyadh International Book Fair
The busiest routes into Riyadh (RUH).
Car hire in Riyadh
Airport transfer to Riyadh International Book Fair
Met at arrivals at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and driven door to door to Riyadh.
- King Khalid International Airport (RUH) → Riyadh
- 44 km · 35 min
Restaurants and food in Saudi Arabia
Places to eat in Saudi Arabia before or after the celebrations.
Maraya Social
Rooftop, Maraya Concert Hall, Ashar Valley, Al Otheeb 43536, AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:Modern EuropeanSharing plates
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
- Bar
Al Basali Seafood
Suq Bab Makkah, Al Balad, Jeddah 22236, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SeafoodHejazi
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
Kuuru
Al Malik Road, Al Khalidiyyah, Jeddah 23422, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:JapanesePeruvian
- Dine-in
- Counter seating
- Bar
Marble
Turki Square, Makkah Al Mukarramah Branch Road, Umm Al Hamam Al Sharqi, Riyadh 12321, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SteakhouseBarbecue
- Dine-in
Najd Village
Al Olaya, King Fahd District, Riyadh 12262, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SaudiNajdi
- Dine-in
- Private room
- Outdoor seating
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Booking
Entry has been free in recent years. Visitors are usually asked to register online beforehand and show a QR code at the gate, so check the commission's site for the registration link a few days before you go.
Small wheeled shopping trolleys are a common sight and are generally allowed. Large suitcases may be refused at security, and some stands can arrange delivery within Saudi Arabia for bulk purchases.
Timing & weather
The 2026 hours have not been published yet. In past editions the halls opened around midday and stayed open until late evening, often near midnight, with a break for Friday prayers. Expect the final timetable shortly before the fair opens.
Weekday afternoons soon after opening are the calmest. Thursday and Friday evenings and the first and last weekends draw the heaviest crowds, with queues at popular publishers and author signings.
The fair goes back to the late 1970s, when King Saud University (then Riyadh University) organised the first editions; most sources give 1978. Responsibility later passed through the education and culture ministries, and since the 2021 edition it has been run by the Ministry of Culture's Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, which also organises book fairs in Jeddah, Medina and the Eastern Province.
Prices & payment
Most larger publishers take cards and Apple Pay, and card payment is the norm across Saudi Arabia. A little cash still helps at smaller independent stands and with second-hand sellers.
Many publishers offer fair discounts, typically somewhere between 10 and 30 percent, and some run bundle deals on the last days. Prices are set by each stand, so it pays to compare before buying multi-volume sets.
Families & accessibility
Yes. There is normally a dedicated children's area with storytelling, drawing and science activities, plus publishers specialising in Arabic children's books. Weekday afternoons are easier with a pushchair than packed weekend evenings.
The exhibition halls are on one level with wide aisles, and accessible parking has been provided in past years. Wheelchairs have been available on request at the information desks.
General
Most seminars and panels are in Arabic. The guest-of-honour country usually brings its own writers and performers, and a few sessions on translation and publishing include English speakers, so check the daily programme.
Casual photos of the halls and your own purchases are fine. Ask before photographing people or filming at a signing, and some talks restrict recording.
Stay & facilities
Food trucks and cafés are set up around the halls, selling coffee, Saudi snacks and quick meals. Seating fills up in the evenings, so eat earlier if you plan a long visit.