What is on in Abu Dhabi this season
Abu Dhabi's season is anchored by Sheikh Zayed Festival, Abu Dhabi Art Week and Grand Prix week, with Yas Island and Saadiyat carrying most of the headline events.
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Festival·Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi Festival 2026, autumn programme
Oct10to 19 Dec10 Oct to 19 Dec 2026Etihad Arena, Emirates Palace, Louvre Abu Dhabi and other venuesThe autumn leg of the 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival runs from 10 October to 19 December 2026, opening with the UAE National Orchestra at Etihad Arena and closing at Louvre Abu Dhabi with Dhafer Youssef. Hans Zimmer plays on 13 November.
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Exhibition·Abu DhabiSpices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean
Oct14to 14 Feb14 Oct 2026 to 14 Feb 2027Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandSpices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean runs at Louvre Abu Dhabi from 14 October 2026 to 14 February 2027.
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Culture·Abu DhabiAl Dhafra Festival 2026-27
Oct27to 13 Jan27 Oct 2026 to 13 Jan 2027Sweihan, Razeen, Madinat Zayed and other Al Dhafra sitesThe 20th Al Dhafra Festival runs in five stages of camel beauty contests and heritage competitions from 27 October 2026 to 13 January 2027 in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
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Culture·Abu DhabiNass
Oct3030 Oct 2026The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandNass at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 30 October 2026, from AED 52.50.
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Festival·Abu DhabiSheikh Zayed Festival 2026-27
Oct30to 14 Mar30 Oct 2026 to 14 Mar 2027Al Wathba South, Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi's biggest heritage-and-entertainment festival opens its 2026-27 season at Al Wathba on 30 October and runs for 136 days to 14 March 2027, with new music and theatre, art and photography exhibitions and a redesigned aerial light show.
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Theatre·Abu DhabiRiverdance
Oct31to 1 Nov31 Oct to 1 Nov 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandThe Irish dance show Riverdance plays Etihad Arena on 31 October and 1 November 2026, with tickets from AED 215.
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Conference·Abu DhabiADIPEC 2026
Nov2to 52 to 5 Nov 2026ADNEC Centre Abu DhabiThe Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference runs at ADNEC Centre from 2 to 5 November 2026.
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Sport·Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi Aldar Championship
Nov5to 85 to 8 Nov 2026Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Yas IslandA DP World Tour Play-Offs golf event at Yas Links from 5 to 8 November 2026, formerly known as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
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Comedy·Abu DhabiMo Amer Live
Nov66 Nov 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandMo Amer Live at Etihad Arena on 6 November 2026.
- 10Comedy·Abu Dhabi
Maz Jobrani Live
Nov77 Nov 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandMaz Jobrani Live at Etihad Arena on 7 November 2026.
- 11Exhibition·Abu Dhabi
Art Here 2026 and the Richard Mille Art Prize
Nov11to 28 Feb11 Nov 2026 to 28 Feb 2027Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandArt Here 2026, on the theme Confluences, with the Richard Mille Art Prize, runs at Louvre Abu Dhabi from 11 November 2026 to 28 February 2027.
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Concert·Abu DhabiHans Zimmer Live
Nov1313 Nov 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandThe film composer Hans Zimmer plays Etihad Arena on Friday 13 November 2026, in the autumn programme of Abu Dhabi Festival.
- 13Festival·Abu Dhabi
BREDx Abu Dhabi
Nov13to 1413 to 14 Nov 2026Etihad Live, Yas IslandA two-night hip-hop festival on Yas Island on 13 and 14 November 2026, with Central Cee and Bryson Tiller on the Saturday.
- 14Art and design·Abu Dhabi
Frieze Abu Dhabi 2026 and Abu Dhabi Art Week
Nov18to 2218 to 22 Nov 2026Manarat Al Saadiyat and Old Abu Dhabi AirportFrieze Abu Dhabi makes its debut on 19 to 22 November 2026 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the same week as NOMAD Abu Dhabi (18 to 22 November, Old Abu Dhabi Airport) and the opening of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial in the city on 15 November.
- 15Art and design·Abu Dhabi
NOMAD Abu Dhabi
Nov18to 2218 to 22 Nov 2026Terminal 1, Old Abu Dhabi AirportAn international art and design fair in the disused Terminal 1 at Old Abu Dhabi Airport, 18 to 22 November 2026.
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Theatre·Abu DhabiAmerican Ballet Theatre at Emirates Palace
Nov2020 Nov 2026Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu DhabiAmerican Ballet Theatre performs at Emirates Palace on Friday 20 November 2026, with tickets from AED 125.
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Comedy·Abu DhabiAries Spears Live
Nov2121 Nov 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandAries Spears Live at Etihad Arena on 21 November 2026, from AED 120.
- 18Exhibition·Abu Dhabi
Living Legacies. Protecting Heritage. Building Hope
Nov23to 25 Apr23 Nov 2026 to 25 Apr 2027Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandLiving Legacies. Protecting Heritage. Building Hope runs at Louvre Abu Dhabi from 23 November 2026 to 25 April 2027.
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Culture·Abu DhabiAlgarabia
Nov2626 Nov 2026Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu DhabiAlgarabia at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on 26 November 2026, from AED 100.
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Concert·Abu DhabiTarkan Live
Nov2727 Nov 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandThe Turkish pop star Tarkan plays Etihad Arena on Friday 27 November 2026, with tickets from AED 295.
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Ramy Sabry Live
Nov2828 Nov 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandRamy Sabry Live at Etihad Arena on 28 November 2026, from AED 295.
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Sport·Abu DhabiSailGP Grand Final, Abu Dhabi
Nov28to 2928 to 29 Nov 2026Emirates Palace, Abu DhabiThe $2 million SailGP decider is sailed off Emirates Palace on 28 and 29 November 2026.
- 23Concert·Abu Dhabi
Verdi's Opera Gala
Nov2929 Nov 2026Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu DhabiVerdi's Opera Gala at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on 29 November 2026, from AED 125.
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Concert·Abu DhabiAndrea Bocelli: Romanza
Dec22 Dec 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandThe Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performs at Etihad Arena on Wednesday 2 December 2026, with tickets from AED 295.
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Sport·Abu DhabiFormula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026
Dec3to 63 to 6 Dec 2026Yas Marina Circuit, Yas IslandRace week runs 3 to 6 December 2026 at Yas Marina Circuit, with the Yasalam after-race concerts (Lewis Capaldi, Imagine Dragons, The Chainsmokers and The Script announced) and an official after-party on 4 December headlined by Anyma.
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Concert·Abu DhabiYasalam After-Race Concerts 2026
Dec3to 63 to 6 Dec 2026Etihad Park and Etihad Live, Yas IslandFour nights of headline concerts on Yas Island during Abu Dhabi Grand Prix week, 3 to 6 December 2026, for Grand Prix ticket holders.
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Nightlife·Abu DhabiAnyma: Official Grand Prix After-Party
Dec44 Dec 2026Yas Gateway Park, Yas IslandThe official Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-party, headlined by Anyma, on Friday 4 December 2026 at Yas Gateway Park.
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16/360 Grand Prix Week: Shimza, CamelPhat and Black Coffee
Dec4to 64 to 6 Dec 202616/360, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas IslandThree nights of DJ sets at 16/360 on Yas Marina Circuit during Abu Dhabi Grand Prix week, 4 to 6 December 2026, from AED 1,250.
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Sport·Abu DhabiFormula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026
Dec4to 64 to 6 Dec 2026Yas Marina Circuit, Yas IslandThe Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closes the 2026 Formula 1 season at Yas Marina Circuit, with the race weekend running from 4 to 6 December 2026.
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Conference·Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi Finance Week 2026
Dec7to 107 to 10 Dec 2026ADGM Square, Al Maryah IslandThe fifth Abu Dhabi Finance Week runs from 7 to 10 December 2026 at ADGM Square on Al Maryah Island, with more than 70 events.
- 31Concert·Abu Dhabi
Lisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili
Dec1010 Dec 2026The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandLisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 10 December 2026, from AED 150.
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Culture·Abu DhabiGuggenheim Abu Dhabi opens
Dec1111 Dec 2026Saadiyat Island, Abu DhabiThe Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a museum of modern and contemporary art designed by the late Frank Gehry, is scheduled to open on Saadiyat Island on 11 December 2026, completing the Saadiyat Cultural District's major museums.
- 33Concert·Abu Dhabi
Minsoo Sohn
Dec1111 Dec 2026The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandMinsoo Sohn at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 11 December 2026, from AED 150.
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Festival·Abu DhabiLiwa International Festival 2026-27
Dec11to 2 Jan11 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 2027Liwa and Tal Moreeb, Al Dhafra RegionThe desert festival around Tal Moreeb, one of the world's tallest dunes, returns from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 with motorsport, music, heritage and family programmes. The full 2026-27 schedule had not been released at the time of checking.
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Sport·Abu DhabiADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2026
Dec1212 Dec 2026Abu DhabiThe eighth ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon takes place on 12 December 2026, with a full marathon, a team-of-two marathon and 10 km, 5 km and 2.5 km races.
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Concert·Abu DhabiMariah Carey: Christmastime
Dec1212 Dec 2026Etihad Arena, Yas IslandMariah Carey's Christmastime show comes to Etihad Arena on Saturday 12 December 2026, with tickets from AED 249.
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Concert·Abu DhabiDhafer Youssef
Dec1919 Dec 2026The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandDhafer Youssef at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 19 December 2026, from AED 150.
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Conference·Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2027
Jan10to 1410 to 14 Jan 2027ADNEC Centre Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi Sustainability Week runs from 10 to 14 January 2027 in Abu Dhabi, with its main events at the ADNEC Centre.
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Sport·Abu DhabiAJP Abu Dhabi International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2027
Jan15to 1715 to 17 Jan 2027Mubadala Arena, Abu DhabiThe AJP Tour's Abu Dhabi International Jiu-Jitsu Championship runs from 15 to 17 January 2027 at Mubadala Arena.
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- 41Culture·Abu Dhabi
Tamaas Festival
Jan2929 Jan 2027The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandTamaas Festival at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 29 January 2027.
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Sport·Abu DhabiMubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2027
Jan30to 6 Feb30 Jan to 6 Feb 2027International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports CityThe fifth Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a WTA 500 tennis tournament, runs from 30 January to 6 February 2027 at the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City.
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Concert·Abu DhabiHarry Potter Film Concert Series
Feb5to 65 to 6 Feb 2027Etihad Arena, Yas IslandA Harry Potter film screened with a live orchestra at Etihad Arena on 5 and 6 February 2027, from AED 120.
- 44Culture·Abu Dhabi
Ramadaniyat: The Handover
Feb1717 Feb 2027The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandRamadaniyat: The Handover at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 17 February 2027, from AED 52.50.
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Theatre·Abu DhabiThe Phantom of the Opera
Mar10to 2810 to 28 Mar 2027Etihad Arena, Yas IslandThe musical The Phantom of the Opera makes its Abu Dhabi debut at Etihad Arena from 10 to 28 March 2027, from AED 240.
- 46Concert·Abu Dhabi
Tribute to Ziad Rahbani by Faraj Suleiman
Mar2626 Mar 2027The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandTribute to Ziad Rahbani by Faraj Suleiman at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 26 March 2027, from AED 78.75.
- 47Sport·Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour 2027
May7to 97 to 9 May 2027Mubadala Arena, Abu DhabiThe Abu Dhabi stop of the Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour runs from 7 to 9 May 2027 at Mubadala Arena.