Islamic treasures at Cambridge University Library

Join us for this rare opportunity to see some of our finest examples of Islamicate art including manuscripts, books and fragments. With more than six centuries of history, Cambridge University Library is one of the world’s foremost repositories of knowledge, caring for millions of items that document millennia of human thought, culture, and discovery. Our collection of Islamic manuscripts dates from the origins of Arabic scholarship in Cambridge in the 1630s. Since then, the collection has grown in size and diversity to include thousands of works that shed light on many aspects of the Islamic world, its beliefs and learning. Join us for this rare opportunity to see some of our finest examples of Islamicate art including manuscripts, books and fragments. Our collections specialists will be on hand to introduce the material and you can find out about library membership from our Reader Services team. This is a free, drop-in event. Please note that at busier times there may be a short wait to view the display. Last admittance will be at 1.45pm. Open for all, regardless of faith. About The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts runs from 19 to 29 November 2026, bringing performances, exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to Cambridge's historic colleges, museums, and cultural spaces. Open to everyone, the festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of Islamic arts, and, fifty years on from the landmark 1976 World of Islam Festival, carries that spirit into our own time. Find out more at cfia.co.uk.