The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, widely known as Emirates LitFest, has long been one of the Middle East’s most influential cultural events. Each year, it brings together writers, readers, thinkers and creatives from around the world to celebrate storytelling in all its forms. In 2026, the festival places a special spotlight on one of the most compelling and fast-evolving genres: crime writing.

Crime fiction has grown far beyond traditional detective stories. Today, it explores psychological tension, social justice, power, morality, and the fragile line between truth and fiction. Emirates LitFest 2026 reflects this evolution by curating a crime programme that ranges from courtroom dramas and domestic noir to investigative journalism and high-stakes suspense.

Among the headline sessions is the return of legal thriller legend Scott Turow, who revisits the courtroom world that made him a defining voice in the genre. Fans of psychological and domestic thrillers are treated to discussions on how danger often hides within ordinary life, while suspense writers explore how pacing, fear and uncertainty are crafted on the page.

The programme also highlights the growing influence of true crime and investigative storytelling, particularly in how it connects with younger audiences through clear narrative, ethical reporting and social relevance. This reflects a broader shift in crime writing — from entertainment alone to a powerful lens for examining society, injustice and human behavior.

Held from 21 to 27 January 2026 at the InterContinental in Festival City, Dubai, Emirates LitFest once again proves that literature is not only about beauty and imagination, but also about confronting reality. By placing crime writing at the heart of the festival, LitFest 2026 invites readers to explore the darker corners of storytelling — not to glorify them, but to understand them.