The Sharjah Thriller Festival is back with a bigger, bolder, and more engaging fourth edition. Set to take place from November 8 to 11, 2025, the festival will be held as part of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) at Expo Centre Sharjah. Known for blending global storytelling with local creativity, this year’s festival promises an immersive experience for fans of suspense, mystery, and crime fiction.
A Global Celebration of Suspense
Since its debut, the Sharjah Thriller Festival has become a major literary event for crime and thriller enthusiasts. Each year, it brings together bestselling authors, screenwriters, and creative minds from around the world. What sets it apart is its mission to celebrate the art of storytelling in a genre that captivates millions — suspense, crime, and psychological thrillers.
The festival also plays a key role in highlighting Sharjah’s growing reputation as a cultural and literary hub in the Arab world. By connecting international authors with regional talent, it creates a unique space where creativity and culture meet.
Exciting Line-up of Authors
This year’s festival will feature 13 leading voices in the world of thrillers, including global bestsellers and regional talents. Among them are Chris Pavone, Jennifer Hillier, Stacy Willingham, Ragnar Jónasson, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, S. Hussain Zaidi, Omar Shahid Hamid, and Mirna Al Mahdi.
Each author brings a distinct perspective, from American crime thrillers to Icelandic noir and South Asian true crime fiction. Together, they will share insights into their creative process, explore the emotional depth of writing suspense, and discuss how culture and context shape their stories.
This international mix ensures that the festival remains inclusive, dynamic, and filled with diverse voices from every corner of the literary world.
Panels and Masterclasses
The Sharjah Thriller Festival is not just a showcase of books; it’s a hands-on learning experience. The schedule includes thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive sessions, and creative writing workshops designed for both aspiring writers and passionate readers.
Some of the sessions expected this year include:
• Scene One, Chapter One: Exploring how thrillers are adapted from novels to television and film.
• Writing Thrillers Through a Cultural Lens: Understanding how geography, identity, and emotion influence suspense.
• Inside the Underworld: Discovering the connection between real life crime and fiction.
• Crafting Fear: Building psychological tension and believable villains.
• Where Trauma Lives: Exploring grief, loss, and anxiety as tools for building deeper emotional stories.
Workshops will also guide participants through storytelling techniques, pilot writing for screen, and strategies for publishing and marketing thrillers.
These sessions are designed to inspire creativity and give practical guidance to emerging authors who dream of writing stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A Live Mystery Experience: Murder at the Majlis
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the interactive play Murder at the Majlis. Written by Bhoomika Ghaghada and directed by Tarun Shyam, the performance features students from the American University of Sharjah.
The play turns the audience into detectives, inviting them to solve a live whodunit mystery as it unfolds on stage. This unique theatrical experience adds a new layer of excitement, transforming the festival into a fully immersive storytelling event.
The production also reflects Sharjah’s focus on youth and community engagement, offering local talent an international platform to perform and participate in a global celebration of literature.
Sharjah: A Thrilling Cultural Destination
The city of Sharjah continues to strengthen its reputation as a hub for arts and literature. The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), one of the world’s largest literary events, provides the perfect stage for the Thriller Festival.
Sharjah’s commitment to culture and education has positioned it as a destination for readers, writers, and publishers from across the globe. Hosting the Thriller Festival as part of SIBF gives participants a rare opportunity to engage with world-class authors and enjoy one of the richest cultural experiences in the region.
By blending international voices with regional stories, the festival also celebrates the power of diversity, showing how the universal language of suspense can bridge cultures and inspire creativity everywhere.
What Readers and Writers Can Expect
The Sharjah Thriller Festival offers something for everyone, from casual readers to professional writers.
For Readers
• Meet your favorite authors and discover new voices in the world of thrillers.
• Attend autograph sessions and Q&A panels.
• Experience live storytelling through the interactive play Murder at the Majlis.
For Writers
• Learn directly from bestselling authors and industry experts.
• Participate in writing workshops and masterclasses.
• Gain practical knowledge about publishing, screenwriting, and marketing.
• Network with international professionals, agents, and fellow authors.
For fans of mystery and suspense, it’s a chance to dive into the minds of the people who craft the world’s most gripping stories and perhaps even start writing one of their own.
How to Join the Festival
Dates: November 8 to 11, 2025
Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah
Entry: Open to all SIBF visitors; selected workshops may require registration.
Tip for visitors: Plan your schedule early. The most popular sessions, especially author workshops and live performances, tend to fill up quickly.
Visitors traveling from outside the UAE can also take advantage of the broader SIBF experience, which includes hundreds of book launches, cultural performances, and interactive exhibits happening alongside the Thriller Festival.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Thrillers in Sharjah
As the Sharjah Thriller Festival enters its fourth year, it’s clear that this event has become a cornerstone of the region’s literary calendar. More than a platform for storytelling, it’s a creative bridge between East and West, connecting cultures through suspense and emotion.
The festival also reflects how thrillers are evolving. Today’s stories are more global, culturally rooted, and psychologically complex than ever. By hosting diverse authors and interactive formats, Sharjah is helping redefine how readers experience the genre, not just as entertainment, but as art.
From book lovers to aspiring novelists, everyone leaves the festival inspired. It’s not only about the thrill of solving mysteries; it’s about understanding what makes stories powerful, the emotion, the humanity, and the connection between writer and reader.
Final Thoughts
The Sharjah Thriller Festival 2025 promises to be a thrilling celebration of creativity, suspense, and storytelling. With an impressive line-up of authors, immersive performances, and a strong focus on cultural exchange, it stands as one of the most exciting literary events of the year.
Whether you’re drawn to heart-stopping crime fiction, psychological mysteries, or simply love a good story, this festival offers something extraordinary. Mark your calendar, bring your curiosity, and get ready to experience the world of thrillers like never before, right in the heart of Sharjah.
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