The announcement was once made all the way through the legitimate handover rite on the IPA 2026 Gala Dinner, held as a part of the thirty fifth Global Publishers Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from fifth to ninth July 2026.
Sharjah: Sharjah Town will host the Global Publishers Congress (IPC) 2028, one of the most publishing trade’s maximum influential international gatherings, bringing the sector’s main publishers, authors, rights pros and trade mavens to Sharjah in October 2028 underneath the theme “Inclusion. Innovation. Integrity”.
The announcement was once made all the way through the legitimate handover rite on the IPA 2026 Gala Dinner, held as a part of the thirty fifth Global Publishers Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from fifth to ninth July 2026.
Backed by way of the Sharjah E book Authority, the Gala Dinner introduced in combination roughly 500 delegates from around the world publishing neighborhood and supplied the atmosphere for Sharjah’s legitimate acceptance of the internet hosting rights for the 2028 Congress.
The Emirates Publishers Affiliation will host the Congress in shut collaboration with the Global Publishers Affiliation.
The legitimate handover happened following the IPA Awards Rite, when representatives of Kuala Lumpur officially introduced Sharjah as the following host town prior to turning in the Global Publishers Congress flag. H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Honorary President of the Emirates Publishers Affiliation, then delivered the legitimate acceptance speech, officially accepting the distinction of internet hosting the Global Publishers Congress 2028 on behalf of Sharjah and inviting the worldwide publishing neighborhood to the UAE.
H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Honorary President of the Emirates Publishers Affiliation, mentioned, “Website hosting the Global Publishers Congress 2028 displays the boldness that the worldwide publishing neighborhood has positioned in Sharjah and within the UAE as a gathering position for discussion, collaboration and the loose trade of concepts.
“We look forward to welcoming publishers from around the world to a Congress that strengthens international partnerships, explores the opportunities shaping the future of publishing, and reaffirms our shared belief in the enduring power of books to connect cultures, expand knowledge and bring people together.”
Held every two years by the International Publishers Association (IPA), the Congress is the publishing industry’s foremost international forum, bringing together publishers, authors, booksellers, rights professionals, policymakers and technology leaders to exchange ideas, address emerging challenges and explore the opportunities shaping the future of publishing.
Sharjah’s selection as host of the 2028 Congress reflects the international publishing community’s confidence in the emirate’s growing role as a global convener for the publishing industry, underpinned by its long-standing commitment to advancing culture, knowledge and international collaboration.
Over the years, Sharjah has developed a comprehensive publishing ecosystem that supports every stage of the publishing value chain, from authorship and publishing to translation, rights trading and professional development, while creating an environment that encourages innovation, creativity and the free exchange of ideas.
This recognition underscores Sharjah’s ability to convene diverse stakeholders from across the global publishing ecosystem and lead meaningful conversations on the future of the industry.
Hosting the Congress marks a new milestone in Sharjah’s global publishing journey and reinforces the UAE’s position as an international destination for cultural dialogue and knowledge exchange.
The Congress is also expected to create new opportunities across rights trading, translation, publishing services and international collaboration, further strengthening the UAE’s role within the global knowledge economy.
These opportunities are expected to extend well beyond the role of the Congress itself, fostering long-term professional exchange, industry partnerships and continued collaboration across the international publishing ecosystem.
Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the EPA, said, “Website hosting the Global Publishers Congress 2028 within the UAE represents a defining second for the rustic’s publishing sector and displays Sharjah’s rising affect throughout the international publishing neighborhood. The Congress will supply Emirati publishers with remarkable alternatives to interact with world friends, beef up rights trade, amplify translation partnerships and exhibit the UAE’s colourful publishing panorama to the sector.”
Held under the theme “Inclusion. Innovation. Integrity,” the 2028 Congress will discover the defining problems shaping the way forward for publishing in an an increasing number of interconnected and technology-driven global.
The inclusion pillar will center of attention on advancing inclusive publishing by way of selling illustration, making improvements to accessibility and inspiring the localisation of reports that replicate the richness and variety of cultures and communities international. It’ll additional discover how publishing can beef up cross-cultural working out by way of making sure tales stay in the community related whilst attaining international audiences.
The innovation pillar will read about inventive and technological answers that toughen sustainable publishing and rising industry fashions, whilst exploring how virtual transformation and synthetic intelligence can create new alternatives around the publishing price chain.
The integrity pillar will spotlight the significance of upholding moral requirements, strengthening believe in publishing and safeguarding highbrow belongings in an generation of speedy technological development, making sure that innovation continues to toughen the core values of the publishing occupation.
The Congress programme will characteristic a dynamic time table of keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops and shows addressing lots of the problems shaping the trade’s long term.
It’ll additionally supply publishers with alternatives to discover new approaches to rights buying and selling, translation, localisation and sustainable industry enlargement in an evolving international market.
The Emirates Publishers Affiliation will play an lively position in supporting the Congress by way of strengthening engagement between Emirati and world publishers, encouraging skilled trade and facilitating discussion on publishing, translation, rights buying and selling and rising alternatives for world cooperation.
Via bringing the Global Publishers Congress to Sharjah, the UAE reinforces its dedication to advancing publishing as a catalyst for wisdom, creativity and sustainable building.
