Middle Eastern & SWANA Literary Events in NYC

Book launches, poetry readings, translation talks, and literary clubs digging into the region's writers — Middle Eastern, North African, and SWANA literary life in New York is thriving. These are the events worth a seat, updated every week.

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23 events

Danny Ramadan + Alejandro Heredia: Crooked Teeth

Danny Ramadan + Alejandro Heredia: Crooked Teeth

Strand Book Store, Flatiron

Tickets at $13.61

Rozina Ali presents Seasons of Fury

Rozina Ali presents Seasons of Fury

Community Bookstore, Park Slope

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

21st-Century Playwrights Book Club: English / Wish You Were Here

Workshop · Theater · Literature

21st-Century Playwrights Book Club: English / Wish You Were Here

Liz's Book Bar, Brooklyn Heights

Reviving the Press Workshop with Layal Srouji

Workshop · Art · Literature

Reviving the Press Workshop with Layal Srouji

All Street Gallery, LES

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Reading & Discussion: Whisper Tapes (Kate Millett in Iran)

Literature · Politics

Reading & Discussion: Whisper Tapes (Kate Millett in Iran)

From Lived Wisdom to Building a Liberated World

Literature · Community · LGBTQ+

From Lived Wisdom to Building a Liberated World

Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, Greenwich Village

From Lived Wisdom to Building a Liberated World

Literature · Community · LGBTQ+

From Lived Wisdom to Building a Liberated World

Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, Greenwich Village

Poets for Palestine

Literature · Music · Fundraiser

Poets for Palestine

Starr Bar, Bushwick

5:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Tickets at $5-$100 (sliding scale)

TMR Book Club Discusses "The Slightest Green" by Sahar Mustafah

Literature · Community

TMR Book Club Discusses "The Slightest Green" by Sahar Mustafah

1 pm EDT/19:00 CET

RIDER OF DRAGONS: A.T. Qureshi in conversation w/ Sarah Beth Durst

RIDER OF DRAGONS: A.T. Qureshi in conversation w/ Sarah Beth Durst

Love & Legends Books, Prospect Heights

Book Launch Party: Maha Hashwi in Conversation with Mahogany L. Browne

Book Launch Party: Maha Hashwi in Conversation with Mahogany L. Browne

Mayday Space, 176 St Nicholas Ave, Brooklyn, NY, Bushwick

Ulysses, New York

Cinema · Theater · Literature

Ulysses, New York

Arverne Cinema Outside, Queens

KAN YAMA KAN w/ Arman Salem + Mohammed Hakima + Marcos de la Fuente + MORE

KAN YAMA KAN w/ Arman Salem + Mohammed Hakima + Marcos de la Fuente + MORE

Blinky's, Williamsburg

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Arabic Erotic Literature Course

Workshop · Literature

Arabic Erotic Literature Course

The Picnic House in Prospect Park, Prospect Park

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Tickets at $108.55

CWP Launchpad Series: "I Close My Eyes and Do My Duty" by Defne Ozkan

Theater · Literature

CWP Launchpad Series: "I Close My Eyes and Do My Duty" by Defne Ozkan

St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Upper West Side

CWP Launchpad Series: "I Close My Eyes and Do My Duty" by Defne Ozkan

Theater · Literature

CWP Launchpad Series: "I Close My Eyes and Do My Duty" by Defne Ozkan

St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Upper West Side

7 PM – 8:30 PM

Arabic Storytime at Huda

Kids · Literature · Community

Arabic Storytime at Huda

Huda, Williamsburg

EMPIRE: Sabaa Tahir

EMPIRE: Sabaa Tahir

Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, Fort Greene

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Read the World A to Z Launch Celebration, BKBF Bookend Event

Read the World A to Z Launch Celebration, BKBF Bookend Event

The Rabbit Books and Bar, East Village

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

An Hour of Readings for Etel Adnan

Literature · Art · Community

An Hour of Readings for Etel Adnan

Judd Foundation, SoHo

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM

Haleh Liza Gafori: RUMI

Music · Literature

Haleh Liza Gafori: RUMI

Joe's Pub, East Village

Arabic Storytime at Huda

Kids · Literature · Community

Arabic Storytime at Huda

Huda, Williamsburg

Arabic Erotic Literature Course (translated)

Cinema · Spirituality · Art

Arabic Erotic Literature Course (translated)

The Picnic House in Prospect Park , Park Slope

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Tickets at $120

Frequently asked

Where can I find middle eastern & swana literary events in NYC?: Menna maintains a live, weekly-updated list of middle eastern & swana literary events across all five boroughs at itsmenna.com/events/literature/ — including venue, date, price, and neighborhood for each event.
What kind of middle eastern & swana literary events does Menna list?: The listings span concerts, festivals, film screenings, food events, community gatherings, and nightlife. Filter or browse by category, neighborhood, or date on the main events page.
How often does the list refresh?: New events are added continuously by Menna's team plus an automated scraper that watches Luma, Eventbrite, and dozens of NYC venue calendars. The public site rebuilds daily.