The 26th Free Reading Festival 2026 opens at the King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh from 10 to 14 May 2026, as part of the National Cultural Project for Reconnecting with Books, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Education in the Riyadh Region, targeting public school students through varied knowledge and cultural programs.

The festival is one of the leading cultural programs the library organizes every year, aimed at instilling a culture of free reading and developing the intellectual and knowledge skills of new generations in an interactive learning environment bringing together students, educators and cultural enthusiasts.

A Cultural Platform for the Love of Reading

The festival is part of the King Abdulaziz Public Library's efforts to spread knowledge awareness and strengthen the connection with books through educational programs that develop students' inclination toward reading and learning.

The events also seek to widen participants' literary, scientific and cultural horizons, and to support teachers in establishing free reading as an essential means of building character and developing intellectual and language abilities.

Supporting Arabic and National Values

The festival focuses on strengthening students' skills in classical Arabic and encouraging expression and conscious reading, through varied cultural and reading activities for different grade levels.

The accompanying programs also nurture the values of belonging and pride in national identity and the Kingdom's cultural history, through historical and knowledge books that reinforce cultural and civilizational identity.

Interactive Programs and Modern Educational Technology

The festival includes several cultural and educational tracks, including live reading and specialized reading courses, along with the use of modern technology and interactive display screens to enrich the learning experience and make it more engaging.

The children's libraries at the Al Murabba branch are dedicated to primary school students, equipped with technology and visual materials designed to strengthen the child's relationship with books and nurture an interest in reading from an early age.

Knowledge Courses for Middle and High School Students

The festival also includes a training track held in the main theater of the library's Khurais Road branch, targeting middle and high school students through specialized reading courses aimed at developing language and knowledge skills and acquiring different sciences in an interactive learning environment.

These courses seek to go beyond traditional reading by offering learning experiences that foster thinking and creativity and develop students' research and analysis skills.

A Cultural Investment in Future Generations

The 26th Free Reading Festival reflects the King Abdulaziz Public Library's commitment to building an aware, cultured generation capable of keeping pace with knowledge and cultural developments, by establishing reading as a foundation of civilizational and knowledge progress.

The festival also underlines the importance of partnership between cultural and educational institutions in developing young minds and building a knowledge society that supports Saudi Vision 2030.

At a Glance

  • Venue: King Abdulaziz Public Library, Riyadh
  • Dates: 10 to 14 May 2026
  • Hours: 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
  • Event: 26th Free Reading Festival
  • Audience: public school students