Hargeisa International Book Fair

The festival

Every summer, Hargeisa becomes the capital of the book of the Horn of Africa. Hargeisa International Book Fair — Hargeysa International Book Fair in its official spelling — gathers for six days writers, poets, academics and artists from Somaliland and the world at the Hargeisa Cultural Centre: book launches, debates, poetry readings and performances. Founded in 2008, it became the largest literary event in the region.

Its 19th edition, from 25 to 30 July 2026, under the theme "Continuity", hosted the Eswatini as a guest country of honour.