Sharjah’s animation conference is growing and adding comics

Sharjah renames its animation event to the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC) for 2026, adds an Animation and Comics Market, and launches a census of Arab creatives. Runs 26–29 March 2026.

Sharjah’s SACC 2026: New name, bigger venue, new market

Sharjah is giving its fast-growing animation gathering a bigger identity — and a broader brief. The newly renamed Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC) launches in 2026 as an expanded evolution of the Sharjah Animation Conference, with more space, more programming, and a sharper focus on helping creators meet the industry. The headline additions: a dedicated Animation and Comics Market, and a region-wide census of Arab creatives designed to map talent across the Middle East and North Africa.

Sharjah’s animation event has a new name: Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC).
SACC 2026 runs 26–29 March 2026 and is set to be three times larger than last year.
There’s a new Animation and Comics Market aimed at real industry deals and opportunities.
Sharjah is launching an official census of Arab creatives across MENA (illustrators, authors, artists, animators, and more).
The event is organised annually by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA).

SACC is the new name — and comics are now official

Sharjah is making it clear this event isn’t only about animation anymore.

The conference is now called the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC)
It’s positioned as an expanded version of the previous Sharjah Animation Conference
The aim is to champion storytelling in all its forms, not just one medium

The rename matters because it signals a broader programming lineup and a broader crowd — illustrators, comic creators, authors, publishers, producers, and emerging talent, all in the same place. If you’ve ever felt like comics get treated as the “side quest” at creative events, this is Sharjah putting it in the main story.

Dates, scale, and what’s getting bigger in 2026

SACC 2026 is planned as the fourth edition and a major step up in size.

Dates: 26–29 March 2026
Size: the event will span three times the space of last year
Expect bigger stages, larger exhibition areas, more workshops, and more activations

In plain terms, this is built to handle more people and more things to do, without everyone queuing like it’s the last day of Comic-Con. If you like hands-on sessions, the expanded workshop offering is the bit to watch.

For official updates and event info, the organiser’s site is here: sharjahanimation.com.

The new “Animation and Comics Market” is the real industry move

The biggest new addition is the Animation and Comics Market, debuting at SACC 2026.

A dedicated market suggests more structured industry opportunities
It’s aimed at creators who want to move from “posting work” to “selling work”
It supports the event’s shift towards business, deals, and professional growth

Markets are where creators can actually meet the people who commission, publish, produce, and license. If you’re building a portfolio, pitching a project, or looking for collaborations, this is likely to be the most useful part of the whole weekend.

Sharjah is launching a census of Arab creatives across MENA

This is an interesting (and slightly overdue) initiative: an official census of Arab illustrators, authors, artists, animators, and creatives working across the Middle East and North Africa.

It aims to create the first comprehensive mapping of the region’s creative community
It’s framed as a way to support a unified, long-term Arab creative ecosystem
All Arab creators are invited to participate

Why it matters: it’s hard to support an industry properly if nobody can agree on who’s in it and where they are. If done well, this could help connect talent to opportunities — and help the region show its creative depth with actual data, not vibes.

What SACC has already proven (based on 2025)

SACC isn’t launching from zero. The previous edition (May 2025) brought measurable momentum.

More than 5,000 visitors attended
The programme hosted 70+ international experts
Topics explored included the intersection of AI-driven innovation and human imagination

It’s also organised annually by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), and led by Executive Director Khoula Al Mujaini, working under Sharjah’s wider cultural vision and guidance.

If you’re into UAE pop culture events, you might also like our coverage of FNDM Dubai 2025 (anime, comics, cosplay and more): FNDM Dubai 2025: Community-Driven Pop Culture Festival.

And if your interest is more comics-on-shelves than panels-on-stages: Sandstorm Comics hits UAE bookstores.

FAQ

When is the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC) 2026?

SACC 2026 runs 26–29 March 2026.

What’s new at SACC 2026?

The big additions are a dedicated Animation and Comics Market, plus expanded programming and a much larger event footprint.

Who is SACC for?

Illustrators, animators, comic creators, publishers, producers, and emerging creators — basically anyone serious about visual storytelling and the business around it.

What is the “census of Arab creatives”?

An official initiative to map Arab illustrators, authors, artists, animators, and creatives across MENA, aiming to build a clearer picture of the region’s creative community.