{"id":84047,"date":"2026-01-05T12:35:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftech-news.com\/en\/?p=84047"},"modified":"2026-01-05T12:36:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:36:00","slug":"five-unmissable-emirates-litfest-2026-sessions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftech-news.com\/en\/2026\/01\/05\/five-unmissable-emirates-litfest-2026-sessions\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Unmissable Emirates LitFest 2026 Sessions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It\u2019s that time of year! Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is back, returning with a full week of unforgettable stories, thought-provoking conversations and engaging activities for all ages. Running from 21 January to 27 January 2026 at the InterContinental, Dubai Festival City, this iconic event promises to be an inspiring week for book lovers, emerging writers, culture enthusiasts and young families alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s your guide to five unmissable sessions happening over the Emirates LitFest 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Business Breakfast: Boardroom Lessons from a Hostage Negotiator (Special Event)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Date:<\/strong>&nbsp;Wednesday, 21 January, 9 AM \u2013 10:30 AM;&nbsp;<strong>Location:<\/strong>&nbsp;Vista Terrace, Intercontinental<br><strong>Price:<\/strong>&nbsp;AED 200 (includes breakfast)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join former Scotland Yard negotiator&nbsp;<strong>Scott Walker<\/strong>&nbsp;for a Business Breakfast exploring key insights from&nbsp;<em>Eye of the Storm: How to Make Good Decisions in Bad Situations<\/em>. Drawing on his frontline experience, Walker shares strategies for staying calm and performing under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an essential session for leaders and professionals seeking to navigate uncertainty, make smarter choices, and turn high-stress challenges into opportunities for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Science of Love and Happiness\u00a0<\/strong><strong>(LitFest After Hours)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Date:<\/strong>&nbsp;Sunday, 23 January, 7 PM \u2013 8 PM;&nbsp;<strong>Location:<\/strong>&nbsp; Al Ras 1, Intercontinental<br><strong>Price:<\/strong>&nbsp;AED 75 per session<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Love isn\u2019t just poetry and passion. It\u2019s chemistry, psychology, and a lifelong experiment in connection. From the oxytocin-fueled rush of new romance to the quiet comfort of years spent together, scientists are uncovering what really keeps hearts and minds in sync.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join LSE behavioural psychologist&nbsp;<strong>Paul Dolan<\/strong>&nbsp;as he explores how love and happiness intertwine, revealing the science behind creating a good life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MC Grammar: Stop! Grammar Time\u00a0<\/strong><strong>(Family Activities)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Date:<\/strong>&nbsp;Saturday, 24 January, 10 AM \u2013 11 AM;&nbsp;<strong>Location:<\/strong>&nbsp;Al Baraha III, Intercontinental.<br><strong>Price:<\/strong>&nbsp;AED 75<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Step into the world of words with&nbsp;<strong>MC Grammar<\/strong>, multi award-winning teacher, bestselling author, and World Book Day Ambassador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This high-energy, interactive session turns grammar, punctuation, and spelling into rap, rhyme, and rhythm. Bursting with beats, clever wordplay, and plenty of laughs, MC Grammar makes learning English unforgettable. Suitable for children age 6 and upwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re a hip hop fan or just love fun with words, get ready to create, perform, and play because it\u2019s Grammar Time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A Taste of India with Asma Khan\u00a0<\/strong><strong>(Special Event)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Date:<\/strong>&nbsp;Saturday, 24 January, 8 PM \u2013 10 PM;&nbsp;<strong>Location:<\/strong>&nbsp;Zaytoun Restaurant, Intercontinental<br><strong>Price:<\/strong>&nbsp;AED 425 (includes dinner)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join globally renowned chef and Netflix\u2019s Chef\u2019s Table star&nbsp;<strong>Asma Khan<\/strong>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<em>A Taste of India<\/em>&nbsp;\u2014 an unforgettable evening where food meets storytelling<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drawing inspiration from her celebrated London restaurant, Darjeeling Express, Khan will present a six-course menu, with each dish representing one of the six seasons of Bengal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As guests journey through the flavours and aromas of India, Khan will share her personal story &#8211; from home cook to acclaimed restaurateur &#8211; reflecting on heritage, resilience, and the extraordinary power of food to bring people together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Plestia Alaqad: The Eyes of Gaza (Conversation)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Date:<\/strong>&nbsp;Sunday, 25 January, 2 PM \u2013 3 PM;&nbsp;<strong>Location:<\/strong>&nbsp;Al Baraha III, Intercontinental<br><strong>Price:<\/strong>&nbsp;AED 75<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plestia Alaqad<\/strong>\u2019s debut,&nbsp;<em>The Eyes of Gaza<\/em>, is a book born from lived experience. As a journalist reporting through the chaos of bombardment, she documented not only destruction but also the strength, love, and humanity that endure in impossible circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this timely discussion, Alaqad will share her story of capturing the voices too often unheard, and writing to ensure memory is not erased. This is a chance to hear directly from a writer whose words carry both urgency and hope, offering a deeply human perspective on life in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a>Whether you\u2019re here for expert advice, interactive sessions for the whole family, or engaging conversations that spark new ways of thinking, Emirates LitFest 2026 promises something for everyone.&nbsp;<\/a>There are several free events across the different Festival categories including&nbsp;<strong>LitFest Launch Pad<\/strong>, which celebrates local debut authors and the&nbsp;<strong>Fringe<\/strong>, where dazzling young performers, dancers, musicians, poets, and storytellers from across UAE take to stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more flexible access, there are two passes available: the&nbsp;<strong>Conversations Pass<\/strong>&nbsp;(AED 400) for access to a wide range of English and Arabic sessions, and the&nbsp;<strong>Bil Arabi Pass<\/strong>&nbsp;(AED 100) for those keen to explore Arabic literature and thought in depth. Foundation Friends members receive 20% off all tickets plus priority booking and exclusive perks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/litfesttickets.emirateslitfest.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">litfesttickets.emirateslitfest.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s that time of year! Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is back, returning with a full week of unforgettable stories, thought-provoking conversations and engaging activities for all ages. Running from 21 January to 27 January 2026 at the InterContinental, Dubai Festival City, this iconic event promises to be an inspiring week for book lovers, emerging &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":84048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4777],"class_list":["post-84047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-five-unmissable-emirates"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Five Unmissable Emirates LitFest 2026 Sessions - Gulf Tech News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Five Unmissable Emirates LitFest 2026 Sessions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gulftech-news.com\/en\/2026\/01\/05\/five-unmissable-emirates-litfest-2026-sessions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Five Unmissable Emirates LitFest 2026 Sessions - 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