If your kid has a notebook full of half-finished stories, or you’re the one still chasing the “write a novel someday” dream from your teenage years, Riyadh just made a case for showing up on October 10. The Riyadh Writers Club has launched the city’s first Youth Literary Festival, taking over the British International School Riyadh (BISR) Al Waha Campus for a full day built entirely around young writers, readers, and everyone in between.
Riyadh Just Got Its First Youth Literary Festival
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all workshop day. It’s structured, competitive in the fun way, and genuinely aimed at giving young creatives a reason to take their writing seriously, without making it feel like homework.
Who It’s For: Three Age Groups, Three Different Journeys
The festival splits attendees into three tracks: Juniors (10-13), Seniors (14-17), and Emerging Creatives (18-19). Each track gets its own content, so a 12-year-old working through their first short story and a 19-year-old thinking about creative writing as a career path aren’t sitting through the same session pretending it applies equally to both.
The older track leans into something more substantial, combining creative development with academic value, exploring future pathways, and giving attendees the chance to hear directly from people working across the creative industries. It’s less “here’s how to write a poem” and more “here’s what a life built around writing could actually look like.”
Parents aren’t left standing around either; there’s a free add-on session with a teacher who builds curriculum for international schools, which is a nice touch for anyone wondering how to actually support a kid who wants to write seriously.
The Youth Writing Competition: Bring Your A-Game
Alongside the workshops, there’s a Youth Writing Competition running through the day. Participants submit their work for critical evaluation, with the top selections celebrated on stage and a trophy awarded to the grand winner in two separate age categories. If your young writer has been sitting on something they’re proud of, this is the kind of low-stakes-but-still-exciting platform that can make a real difference in how seriously they start taking their own work.
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Tickets, Timings And Everything You Need To Know
The festival runs from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, October 10, at BISR Al Waha Campus. Ticket, and priced at SAR290 and available via Eventbrite. One thing worth flagging early: getting onto the BISR Al Waha campus itself requires a separate registration form, which is provided after you’ve purchased your ticket, so don’t leave that step for the morning of.
Cover Image Courtesy: Eventbrite/Website
FAQs
What age range does the Youth Writing Competition cover?
The competition awards trophies across two separate age categories, which appear to align broadly with the festival's Junior and Senior tracks.
Is registering for the BISR Al Waha campus the same as buying a festival ticket?
No, the two are separate steps. Ticket purchase happens first via Eventbrite, and a separate campus registration form is provided afterward. Complete both before the day of the event to avoid access issues at the gate.