MNU Opens Free Registration for Book Fair Promoting Literacy and Lifelong Learning

The Maldives National University will host its annual Book Fair from 3 to 5 September 2026, offering Maldivian authors and publishers free exhibition space and the public free entry.

The Maldives National University (MNU) has opened registration for the MNU Book Fair 2026, which will run from 3 to 5 September 2026 at the MNU Central Administration in Malé. The fair will be open to the public from 16:00 to 22:00 on each of the three days.

Registration is open to Maldivian authors, publishers and other exhibitors, and closes on 20 August 2026. Participation is free of charge, removing the cost barrier that often limits independent and first-time writers from exhibiting their work. The fair accepts publications in Dhivehi, English and other languages. 

For readers, the fair functions as a public learning space: new and previously unpublished literary works and resources are introduced to the community, and visitors of all ages can browse, discuss and purchase titles directly from their authors. For writers, it provides a route to promote and sell published work and to build an audience for future titles.

SDG alignment

• Primary: SDG 4 — Quality Education. The fair promotes literacy, reading and lifelong learning, and gives the public free access to new and previously unpublished literary works and educational resources over three days. SDG 4 serves as both the primary goal and the mandatory education pillar for this story.
• SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals. MNU delivers the fair in collaboration with Maldivian authors, publishers and exhibitors, whose participation is free of charge, and shares educational and literary resources publicly [TO CONFIRM: named partner organisations and their contributions].
• Secondary: SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities. The fair provides public access to Maldivian arts and literary heritage in a free, open community setting.

Objectives

The MNU Book Fair aims to:

Provide Maldivian writers with an opportunity to showcase their literary works to the public.
Provide a platform for introducing new and unpublished literary works and resources to the community.
Encourage a culture of reading and nurture a lifelong interest in literature.
Provide authors with an opportunity to promote and sell their published works.

Registration is now open for authors, publishers, and other exhibitors wishing to participate in the MNU Book Fair 2026.

In support of the local literary community, participation in the MNU Book Fair is free of charge.

Registration Deadline: 20 August 2026

Interested participants are invited to complete the registration form through the link below:

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/gnqGMAiU97tFR56a9

The Maldives National University remains committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to national development, education, and social enrichment, while creating opportunities for the local literary community to connect, share, and engage with the wider public.