Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage 2026

Stage the sixth edition's awards ceremony, honouring heritage practitioners, storytellers and researchers from around the world, in the presence of the Ruler of Sharjah.

A heritage coastline painted across a 10 metre LED wall, with portrait screens and kinetic panels on either side. Every honouree revealed with name, country and category in Arabic and English, after a three minute opening film on the Award's journey.

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi honoured the sixth edition's winners, with Dr. Abdulla Ali Al Taboor named Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year.

An awards ceremony carries a long list of names. The honourees came from the UAE, the Arab world and beyond, across three fields and nine categories, and each one deserved a moment that read in two languages. With the Ruler of Sharjah presenting the awards, the run of show had no room for a slow changeover or a missed cue.

The stage was built around one wide LED wall painted as a heritage coastline: dhows, a fort, palms and an open book. Portrait screens and kinetic LED panels carried titles and transitions. Every honouree had a name card with photo, flag, field and citation, timed to the walk to the stage. A three minute opening film traced the Award from the 2017 Emiri Decree to its sixth edition, and a show director and show caller ran the rehearsal and the ceremony from one cue sheet.

For the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the ceremony gave each honouree a public moment in front of the Ruler of Sharjah and the region's heritage community. Directed as Creative Director and Show Director, the work joined the stage design, the screen content and the opening film into one show.