Saudi Literature Commission concludes fifth Literary Partner initiative with one million beneficiaries in Riyadh

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission concluded the fifth edition of the "Literary Partner" initiative for 2025-2026 on Monday evening, during a closing ceremony held at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh. The event was attended by Commission CEO Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, Quality of Life Program Center CEO Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Bakr, as well as prominent writers, intellectuals, initiative partners, and representatives from cultural and media organizations.

The Commission's CEO emphasized that the "Literary Partner" initiative has established a national model for cultural partnership between the private and non-profit sectors, helping to broaden community participation and strengthen the presence of literature across Saudi Arabia in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

Al-Wasel noted that the fifth edition saw the participation of 220 literary partners in 57 cities nationwide, who organized 11,677 initiatives with 9,240 speakers, marking a 68% increase in new speakers. The initiative benefited over one million people, underscoring its growing impact and its role as a national platform supporting literary and cultural activity and empowering creative talents.

Honoring winners and supporting literary excellence

The ceremony recognized winners across the initiative's five tracks: cafés, cultural clubs, associations, publishing houses, and shared spaces of all types. The awards highlighted outstanding literary initiatives that expanded cultural participation and brought literature to wider segments of society.

Total prizes awarded exceeded one million riyals (SAR), with special awards for the most innovative contribution, best regional cultural representative, and best media appearance, in support of excellence and to encourage impactful, sustainable literary initiatives.

Fostering cultural movement and strengthening partnerships

The event concluded by celebrating distinguished partners and showcasing key achievements and inspiring stories from this edition, reaffirming the initiative's role in enhancing collaboration between the cultural sector and both private and non-profit sectors, and in building a sustainable literary culture that contributes to community development and enriches the Saudi cultural scene.