The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), a Saudi Aramco initiative, has concluded the second edition of its Little Ones Festival 2026 after three weeks of cultural and educational programs that drew thousands of children and families, offering an interactive experience designed to nurture creativity, foster a love of knowledge and instill a culture of learning in young generations.

The second edition was held under the theme "Home", exploring the home as a space of identity, belonging and safety through more than 80 interactive experiences, including creative workshops, storytelling sessions and art installations, along with activities at the Children's Museum, the Energy Exhibit and the Ithra Museum, letting children explore concepts of design, environment and imagination through innovative educational approaches.

The festival also hosted the sixth Children's Book Fair, with 25 Saudi, Gulf and Arab publishers and more than 23 cultural events. The Syrian Arab Republic was the fair's guest of honor, with a cultural program that spotlighted Syrian children's literature and strengthened Arab cultural exchange.

The program included panel discussions on the future of reading in the digital age, most notably "Bringing Text into Reading Environments", which examined the evolving presence of books in schools, libraries and digital platforms and the importance of developing ways to draw children to reading that match their interests.

During the session, Ibtihaj Al Shammari, Head of Reading Activities and Events at the National Cultural Project for Reconnecting with Books at the King Abdulaziz Public Library, presented the project's efforts to strengthen the presence of books in digital environments, while Mohammed Al Abdulkarim, Director General of Products in the Hobbies Development Sector of the Quality of Life Program, discussed the role of digital platforms in widening access to reading content and supporting cultural hobbies.

The festival is part of Ithra's efforts to promote culture and innovation and offer interactive knowledge experiences that help build a generation passionate about reading and creativity, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 goals of developing cultural and knowledge capabilities.