Bring the kiddos out to a free reading festival in Riyadh this week
It’s the 26th annual one
We love reading almost as much as we love free things, and the annual free reading festival in Riyadh is bringing those two together at the King Abdulaziz Public Library.
Happening until Thursday May 14, the free reading festival in Riyadh will bring together more than 100 schools, over 1,550 students, and a number of educators and teachers. It aims to foster a love of reading and learning, expand students’ literary, scientific, and cultural horizons, and encourage teachers to promote independent reading.
King Abdulaziz Library to Launch 26th Free Reading Festival on Sunday.https://t.co/nNZFWt7XD0#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/XwUMsV9ti5
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) May 6, 2026
It will also provide a platform to showcase student talents and strengthen language skills. Through initiatives like this festival, the King Abdulaziz Public Library promotes reading through diverse programs and a wide range of books that foster pride in the Kingdom’s heritage.
The free reading festival in Riyadh was launched in 2008, and more than 1,150 schools and more than 70,000 people have benefited from it, helping convey knowledge and establish the habit of reading among male and female students.
The library has also previously hosted the annual summer Reading Olympiad, where a total of 1,147 participating children, of various ages, read over 21,720 pages from 913 books, including children’s stories and educational, artistic, historical, and cultural titles.
Organisers say the festival reflects a wider effort to embed reading within education culture, using interactive and inclusive programming that connects students with literature in ways that extend beyond the classroom. The annual event has become a fixture in Riyadh’s educational calendar over the years, bringing together schools and cultural institutions in a shared effort to cultivate curiosity, imagination and intellectual growth among the next generation, according to The Arab Weekly.
Location: 4170 Makkah Al Mukarramah Rd, King Abdullah District
Dates: Until May 14
Timings: 8am to 8pm
For more information, please visit: spa.gov.sa
Images: King Abdulaziz Public Library website
