Journeys in Words
As the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature returns in January, the region’s leading literary gathering marks a significant milestone: the 25th anniversary of the Ibn Battuta Prize for Travel Literature. Named after the legendary 14th-century traveller whose journeys reshaped understanding of the known world, the prize continues to champion storytelling as a means of cultural exchange, curiosity and discovery.
Travel writing today has shifted far from simple itineraries or luxury hotel reviews. Contemporary voices in the genre seek insight rather than distance covered, using personal experience to explore identity, history and the shared human condition. Their work invites readers to encounter places through new perspectives, reminding us that travel, like reading, is an act of imagination as much as movement.
This spirit of exploration runs through the Emirates LitFest 2026 programme, taking place from 21 to 27 January. The festival brings together writers, historians, scientists and adventurers whose work reflects the enduring appeal of journeys—across continents, through time and into the unknown. Among this year’s participants are several standout speakers whose stories span the globe and beyond.
Danish traveller Thor Pedersen is one such figure. At a time when many geographical firsts seem long claimed, Pedersen set himself a singular challenge: to visit every country in the world without flying. Over ten years, he crossed 203 countries by land and sea, driven by a simple question—why not? He will share insights from his memoir The Impossible Journey during his session on Friday, 23 January, from 4.00 to 5.00pm.
Travel literature also finds a scholarly voice in Tim Mackintosh-Smith. An Arabist, historian and writer who has spent four decades in the Arab world, much of it in Yemen, Mackintosh-Smith brings a deep understanding of place and language to his work. His session on the Ibn Battuta Prize, held on Saturday, 24 January, will explore the meaning of travel today through conversation with leading cultural figures.
Historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes approaches travel through the lens of the past. Known for bringing ancient civilisations to life through books and documentaries, she believes that understanding history requires standing where it unfolded. At Emirates LitFest, Hughes will join historian Peter Frankopan for A Historian’s Guide to Surviving the 21st Century on Saturday, 24 January.
Closer to home, Emirati media professional Ibrahim Altehli offers a regional perspective shaped by decades of exploration. Founder of the UAE’s first specialised travel and tourism magazine, Altehli has visited nearly 200 countries. His Arabic-language session, Wanderer, will reflect on moments of meaning found along the road, whether abroad or within.
Scientific discovery also features prominently. Palaeontologist Neil Shubin has ventured to some of the planet’s most remote environments, from polar ice to storm-lashed seas. His book Ends of the Earth blends science with travel and memoir, a theme he will explore with audiences on Sunday, 25 January. That same day, science communicator Dr Kelly Weinersmith turns her gaze skyward, examining the future of space exploration in Life on Mars.
From medieval routes to cosmic horizons, Emirates LitFest 2026 presents travel as a state of mind; one that continues to inspire curiosity, reflection and wonder.
