October 28–31, 2026, University of the Arts Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Early tickets are on sale now
Tickets are currently available for all attendees. ATypI Members and Students receive a discount. Confirmed speakers receive a special Speaker ticket link. Students must provide evidence of their affiliation with an educational institution.
| Ticket type | Dates available | Member | Standard | Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Early | Until November 10 | $425 | — | — |
| Early | November 11 — July 31 | $495 | $575 | $300 |
| Regular | August 1 — September 30 | $575 | $650 | $300 |
| Late | October 1 — October 31 | $650 | $725 | $300 |
ATypI 2026 Sharjah will take place from 28–31 October 2026 at the University of the Arts Sharjah. The conference marks ATypI’s first gathering in Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA), bringing the international typography community to a region that has played a central role in the history of writing, calligraphy, manuscript culture, and multilingual exchange.
For centuries, Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) have been home to some of the world’s most influential traditions of writing, scholarship, and book production. Today, the region continues to shape global conversations on language, design, publishing, and visual culture.
Sharjah, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, is internationally recognized for its longstanding commitment to culture, education, publishing, and the arts. Recognized by UNESCO as the Cultural Capital of the Arab World (1998) and the World Book Capital (2019), the emirate is home to internationally renowned cultural institutions, museums, libraries, the Sharjah International Book Fair, and the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, offering a distinctive setting for an international conference dedicated to typography and writing systems.
Hosted by the University of the Arts Sharjah, the conference takes place within one of the region’s leading institutions for art and design education. Typography, type design, visual communication, and publishing are central areas of teaching, research, and creative practice within the College of Design’s Academy of Visual Arts, providing an ideal environment for dialogue between historical traditions, contemporary design, and emerging technologies.
Over four days, ATypI 2026 Sharjah will bring together designers, researchers, educators, calligraphers, technologists, publishers, and cultural leaders from around the world to explore the conference theme, Between: Tradition • Transition • Transformation, through keynotes, talks, panels, workshops, exhibitions, and cultural experiences.
Program Overview
The program is structured around the theme Between — Tradition | Transition | Transformation, exploring how typography moves across scripts, disciplines, tools, cultures, and time.
“Between” names the connective space where writing systems adapt without disappearing, where calligraphic logic meets computational systems, and where heritage and innovation coexist in productive tension.
The conference asks:
- How do scripts travel across technologies?
- What is preserved, and what is transformed?
- How do we design responsibly across languages and cultures?
- How do archives inform digital futures?
Subthemes include:
- Between Scripts – Multiscript and cross-cultural typography
- Between Voices – Identity, activism, and cultural expression
- Between Forms – Material, spatial, and experimental letterforms
- Between Disciplines – Typography across architecture, technology, and publishing
- Between Tools – Hand, AI, code, and post-digital systems
- Between Pedagogies – Global and inclusive type education
- Between Times – History, archives, and future imaginaries
Sessions include keynotes, panels, workshops, exhibitions, and moderated conversations.
Schedule at a Glance
Wednesday, October 28 — Opening Events, Workshops & Cultural Program
Thursday, October 29 — Conference Sessions
Friday, October 30 — Conference Sessions
Saturday, October 31 — Conference Sessions & Closing Events
Venue & Location
University of the Arts Sharjah
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
The conference will take place across the University of the Arts Sharjah campus in University City, with sessions hosted in academic and cultural venues designed to support dialogue, research, studio practice, and exchange.
Orientation
Sharjah is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, located adjacent to Dubai.
International visitors typically arrive via Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) or Dubai International Airport (DXB). Both airports are approximately 15–20 minutes by car from the University campus.
The city is home to major cultural institutions including the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, House of Wisdom, Sharjah Biennial, and the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Accommodation
The official conference accommodation partner is The Nest, Aljada, located in close proximity to the University of the Arts Sharjah campus. A special conference rate is available for registered attendees using the code: ATypI.
Additional hotel options are available across Sharjah and nearby Dubai, suitable for a range of budgets.
Partners & Sponsors
| Diamond | Platinum | Platinum | Gold | Silver |
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ATypI 2026 Sharjah is supported by academic, cultural, and industry partners committed to advancing global typographic dialogue across scripts and regions.
We invite academic institutions, cultural organizations, publishers, and technology companies to join us in shaping this first ATypI gathering in Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA).
Sponsorship inquiry email: sponsorship@atypi.org