Saudi Arabia Named Guest of Honor at Algiers International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia Named Guest of Honor at Algiers International Book Fair 2026
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Saudi Arabia Named Guest of Honor at Algiers International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia Named Guest of Honor at Algiers International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia will be the guest of honor at the Algiers International Book Fair 2026, taking place from October 28 to November 7 at the Palais des Expositions in Pins Maritimes. The Kingdom's participation aims to strengthen cultural exchange with Algeria.

Saudi Arabia's selection as guest of honor reflects the strong fraternal relations between the two countries and the rapid development of the Kingdom's cultural sector, supported by the Saudi leadership. These efforts have helped strengthen the global presence of Saudi culture and raise awareness of the Kingdom's cultural heritage.

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission will lead the Kingdom's participation in the fair, organizing a cultural program featuring seminars, panel discussions, and poetry evenings. The events will bring together a distinguished group of intellectuals, writers, and specialists. The program will also highlight Saudi Arabia's literary scene and the creative momentum across various cultural fields.

The Saudi pavilion will feature sections dedicated to handicrafts, traditional Saudi attire, and musical instruments, alongside an exhibition of manuscripts and archaeological replicas.

It will host performances of Saudi performing arts that reflect the depth of the Kingdom's cultural heritage, as well as screenings of Saudi films.

Several government entities, authorities, and cultural organizations will participate, presenting a comprehensive picture of cultural activity across various sectors in Saudi Arabia.

The pavilion is expected to offer an integrated cultural experience that reflects the richness and diversity of Saudi identity. It will showcase cultural achievements made under Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to establish culture as a component of quality of life and a means of fostering cultural exchange among peoples.



Saudi Arabia Named Guest of Honor at Algiers International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia Named Guest of Honor at Algiers International Book Fair 2026
TT

Saudi Arabia Named Guest of Honor at Algiers International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia Named Guest of Honor at Algiers International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia will be the guest of honor at the Algiers International Book Fair 2026, taking place from October 28 to November 7 at the Palais des Expositions in Pins Maritimes. The Kingdom's participation aims to strengthen cultural exchange with Algeria.

Saudi Arabia's selection as guest of honor reflects the strong fraternal relations between the two countries and the rapid development of the Kingdom's cultural sector, supported by the Saudi leadership. These efforts have helped strengthen the global presence of Saudi culture and raise awareness of the Kingdom's cultural heritage.

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission will lead the Kingdom's participation in the fair, organizing a cultural program featuring seminars, panel discussions, and poetry evenings. The events will bring together a distinguished group of intellectuals, writers, and specialists. The program will also highlight Saudi Arabia's literary scene and the creative momentum across various cultural fields.

The Saudi pavilion will feature sections dedicated to handicrafts, traditional Saudi attire, and musical instruments, alongside an exhibition of manuscripts and archaeological replicas.

It will host performances of Saudi performing arts that reflect the depth of the Kingdom's cultural heritage, as well as screenings of Saudi films.

Several government entities, authorities, and cultural organizations will participate, presenting a comprehensive picture of cultural activity across various sectors in Saudi Arabia.

The pavilion is expected to offer an integrated cultural experience that reflects the richness and diversity of Saudi identity. It will showcase cultural achievements made under Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to establish culture as a component of quality of life and a means of fostering cultural exchange among peoples.


Red Sea Film Foundation Marks Record Presence in the Race for Oscars with 12 Supported Films

Red Sea Film Foundation Marks Record Presence in the Race for Oscars with 12 Supported Films
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Red Sea Film Foundation Marks Record Presence in the Race for Oscars with 12 Supported Films

Red Sea Film Foundation Marks Record Presence in the Race for Oscars with 12 Supported Films

A record 12 Red Sea Film Foundation-supported films have entered the race for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards, representing 12 countries across Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia.

Eleven have been selected as the official submissions of their respective countries: "A Matter of Life and Death, Roqia, Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars, The Stories, Guria, Four Seasons in Java, Sink, Strawberries, Ben’Imana, We Are All Strangers, and The Other Side of the Sun."

They are joined by Angh, which won the Platform Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. Under new Academy rules introduced for the 99th Academy Awards, the Platform Award winner is among a select group of international festival prize winners eligible to submit directly for consideration in the category, according to SPA.

CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation Faisal Baltyuor said: “The Red Sea Fund backs a broad slate of films each year, and for twelve of them to reach the Oscars race is an extraordinary moment of pride for the Red Sea Film Foundation. For eleven, being chosen by their countries as the official submission is in itself a significant recognition of the filmmakers and their work, and a testament to the talent and the stories emerging from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia. It reflects the growing impact of our commitment to empowering filmmakers and championing their creative visions, from the earliest stages of development through to the international stage. It has been a privilege to be part of their journeys, and we wish them every success as they continue in the Academy Awards race.”

The milestone caps a strong year for Foundation-supported cinema across Cannes, Venice and Toronto. At TIFF 2026 the Foundation marked its largest presence at the festival with eight supported films, culminating in Angh’s Platform Award, while Ben’Imana — now Rwanda’s official submission — won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes earlier in the year.

The shortlist for Best International Feature Film will be announced on December 15, 2026, with nominations on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards take place on March 14, 2027, in Los Angeles.


22 Private Museums in Aseer Document Region's Cultural Heritage

Nationwide, licensed private museums rose to 118 at the end of 2025, up 19 from 99 a year earlier, with Aseer accounting for about 18.6% of the total - SPA
Nationwide, licensed private museums rose to 118 at the end of 2025, up 19 from 99 a year earlier, with Aseer accounting for about 18.6% of the total - SPA
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22 Private Museums in Aseer Document Region's Cultural Heritage

Nationwide, licensed private museums rose to 118 at the end of 2025, up 19 from 99 a year earlier, with Aseer accounting for about 18.6% of the total - SPA
Nationwide, licensed private museums rose to 118 at the end of 2025, up 19 from 99 a year earlier, with Aseer accounting for about 18.6% of the total - SPA

Aseer Region had 22 licensed private museums at the end of 2025, tying Makkah Region for the highest number in the Kingdom, ahead of Riyadh Region with 20 and Eastern Region with 17, according to the Ministry of Culture's State of Culture in Saudi Arabia 2025 report.

Established by individuals dedicated to collecting and preserving heritage, the museums hold agricultural tools, cooking and storage vessels, traditional weapons, coins, documents, attire, jewelry, and craft equipment, SPA reported.

Together they document the lives of people across the region's varied environments, from the Sarawat highlands to the Tihama foothills and the coast, each of which shaped distinct styles of housing, dress, tools, and crafts.

The museums also enrich Aseer's tourism offering, complementing its historical sites, heritage villages, and folk arts, and can be built into travel and cultural itineraries.

Nationwide, licensed private museums rose to 118 at the end of 2025, up 19 from 99 a year earlier, with Aseer accounting for about 18.6% of the total.

A survey of 39 private museums found that 41% hold between 100 and 5,000 items and another 41% have more than 10,000. However, about 60% have no website and 66% lack social media accounts, underscoring the need to strengthen their digital presence and widen public access.