News Desk
DUBAI: On Thursday, 22nd January, 2026, Desert Stanzas the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature’s annual celebration of poetry, music and performance returned beneath the stars, transforming the desert into a vibrant meeting point for voices from around the world. Set against a serene desert oasis, the evening honoured the timeless power of storytelling through spellbinding performances that blended verse, melody and movement.
Guided by this year’s theme, “For every grain of sand, there is a story waiting to be told,” the programme paid tribute to ancient oral traditions while spotlighting the new voices shaping today’s global poetry scene. From haunting melodies to powerful spoken word, performances transcended borders and languages, creating moments of shared memory, deep connection and stories carried on the desert wind making it an unforgettable night of artistic expression.
