Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority has revealed that the list of the 20 poets progressing to the live episodes of the 11th season of Prince of Poets will be announced. The announcement celebrates a significant milestone in the biennial competition, which celebrates Arabic poetry and nurtures talent from across the globe.
Held at the iconic Al Raha Beach Theater, Prince of Poets is recognized as one of the largest platforms committed to Arabic verse. The program committee recently concluded the evaluation process, which involved shortlisting 150 poets from over 1,000 applicants spanning 33 countries — the highest diversity of nationalities in the competition’s history.
During a rigid selection phase conducted in October, contestants met the jury for competitive tests at the Al Raha Beach Theater, culminating in the selection of 20 finalists who will compete in December’s live episodes.
This year’s edition saw a noteworthy surge in participation from non-Arab nations, with poets from 14 countries, including India, the US, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, and Nigeria, submitting entries. This growing international presence highlights the competition’s influence in promoting Arabic poetry on a global scale.
In its previous season, Prince of Poets celebrated a historic achievement with the crowning of the first female winner in its 10-year history. Over the past decade, 245 poets from 25 countries have graced the competition, with female participants representing 24 percent of the total entries. The live episodes of the 11th season promise to resume the program’s tradition of showcasing exceptional poetic talent and enhancing the global presence of Arabic literature.