The Sharjah Book Authority has announced that the fourth edition of the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC) will take place from 22 to 25 October 2026 at Aljada in Sharjah. The expanded edition will bring animation and comics together under a broader focus on visual storytelling, creating new opportunities for collaboration among creators, publishers and producers.
The 2026 conference will extend its participation beyond animators and producers to include writers, illustrators and publishers. The expansion is intended to encourage cross-disciplinary exchange while strengthening connections among creative development, production, and the wider industry.
A new Animation and Comics Market will form part of the programme, providing a dedicated setting for professional connections and partnerships. The initiative reflects SACC’s expanded focus on helping creators move projects from development towards industry opportunities and audiences.
SACC Expands Its Visual Storytelling Focus
The fourth edition will bring together creators, experts, and specialists from the region and around the world through a programme that combines industry knowledge with practical experience. Participants will be able to develop their skills and projects, engage with different areas of professional expertise, and explore current trends and practices across animation and comics.
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, said, “The Arab region is rich in talent capable of creating characters, stories and visual worlds rooted in our culture and able to compete globally. What creators need is an ecosystem that connects creativity with expertise, production and the market. This is the vision behind SACC’s expansion. We are not simply expanding an event; we are bringing the industry together to help creators turn ideas into projects that can reach wider audiences and grow.”
Al Ameri also linked the conference’s development to Sharjah’s wider cultural vision, adding, “Sharjah’s vision, established by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, recognises investment in culture as an investment in people and their ability to shape the future. Under the guidance of H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, we are translating that vision into opportunities for creators and the cultural industries. We want SACC to help Arab creators develop their projects, connect with expertise, partners and markets, and take their stories and cultural identity to audiences around the world.”
Khoula Al Mujaini, Executive Director of SACC, described the 2026 edition as a new stage for the conference, saying, “The 2026 edition marks a new stage in the conference’s journey, expanding opportunities for creators across visual storytelling. Bringing comics and animation under one identity widens the range of expertise at SACC, from writers, illustrators and animators to publishers and producers, creating greater opportunities to exchange knowledge, develop projects and build professional connections.”
She added, “Talent is the starting point, but building a career in the creative industries also requires knowledge, experience, professional networks and access to opportunities. This edition focuses on what comes next: helping creators develop their skills, present their projects, build industry connections and reach new opportunities and markets. We want every creator at SACC to find something that helps them take the next step in their career.”
Workshops, Screenings and Industry Exchange
The programme will continue SACC’s focus on talent development through training, showcases, professional networking and knowledge exchange. Advanced practical workshops, animation screenings, and panel discussions with leading international creators and experts in animation and comics are planned for the fourth edition.
The conference’s expanded structure places professional development alongside creative practice, giving writers, illustrators, animators, publishers and producers opportunities to engage with one another within the same visual storytelling ecosystem.
The development builds on the third edition, held in May 2025, which attracted more than 5,000 visitors and hosted over 70 international experts. That edition explored the future of animation, including the intersection of innovation, artificial intelligence and human imagination.
With its October 2026 programme, SACC is positioning its fourth edition as a broader creative and professional network that connects animation and comics while creating more opportunities for creators to develop projects and engage with regional and international industry partners.
