ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
This October, Abu Dhabi becomes the stage for one of the season’s most anticipated cultural line-ups, bringing together celebrated composer Hans Zimmer, global icons of opera, ballet and jazz, the UAE National Orchestra, and Emirati performers for the 23rd edition of Abu Dhabi Festival. The festival is set to begin on October 10.
Presented under the theme “The Wisdom of Culture,” this year’s Abu Dhabi programme celebrates the UAE as a living embodiment of cultural wisdom and a platform for global dialogue.
Large-scale productions will take over landmark venues across the capital, including Etihad Arena, Cultural Foundation, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, NYU Abu Dhabi, and Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, reflecting ADMAF’s longstanding partnerships with the UAE’s foremost cultural institutions.
The season also marks ADMAF’s 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades of supporting the development of Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape and sharing its artistic vision worldwide.
Highlights
The Festival opens on October 10 with the UAE National Orchestra under the baton of acclaimed conductor François López-Ferrer at the Etihad Arena. The opening concert will feature pianist David Khrikuli in a programme that marks the beginning of the Festival’s 2026 season with exceptional artistry and musical expression.
On November 13, the Academy Award® and Grammy Award®-winning composer, Hans Zimmer, brings THE NEXT LEVEL tour to Etihad Arena as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival. The performance reimagines some of his most iconic cinematic scores as immersive orchestral and electronic soundscapes, marking a major highlight on the capital’s cultural calendar.
Global Performances and Premieres
The Abu Dhabi programme continues on November 21 at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental with American Ballet Theatre, presenting a programme that moves between classical tradition and contemporary choreography. Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering, Jiří Kylián’s new commission Nuages and Paquita, staged by Natalia Makarova after Marius Petipa, will showcase the dancers’ versatility, range and technical brilliance.
A landmark production follows on November 26 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental with the Arab world premiere of Algarabía, co-produced by Abu Dhabi Festival, Museo Universidad de Navarra, and Khawla Art & Culture Foundation. Following its highly successful world premiere in Pamplona, Spain, this multidisciplinary production is co-directed by Ignacio García and Lebanese director Jihad Mikhael.
With Emirati composer Ihab Darwish among its musical contributors, the production also features flamenco virtuoso Jesús Carmona and acclaimed Lebanese actors Cynthia Karam and Rafic Ali Ahmad in a compelling fusion of flamenco and Arab poetic traditions.
The Festival continues on November 29 with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra performing Verdi 125th Anniversary Gala Concert at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, marking the Orchestra’s first-ever concert in the UAE. Conducted by David Crescenzi and featuring soprano Maria Agresta and tenor Giorgio Berrugi, the performance presents a selection of Giuseppe Verdi’s most celebrated overtures, arias and duets.
The Abu Dhabi’s programme concludes on December 19 at Louvre Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the museum, featuring Tunisian composer, singer and oud virtuoso Dhafer Youssef and his Quintet. Rooted in the Arab musical and vocal traditions of North Africa, Dhafer Youssef’s distinctive musical language brings together jazz, European classical forms, Turkish influences, and traditional Indian music in a performance that transcends genres through rich musical textures and contemporary expression.
Recital Series
Celebrating mastery and regional heritage, the Abu Dhabi Festival Recital Series showcases internationally acclaimed and Emirati artists through performances at some of Abu Dhabi’s most distinguished cultural venues.
The series begins on October 30 at the Zayed National Museum, where the UAE’s first professional female Emirati cellist, Elham Al Marzooqi, joins pianist Sooyeon Jun for a recital spanning Baroque masterworks, Romantic repertoire and beloved cinematic melodies.
On December 7, Emirati soprano Fatima Al Hashimi and pianist Ina Charelli will present a programme that bridges classical and traditional Arabic repertoire, highlighting the expressive depth and versatility of Al Hashimi’s voice.
The Cultural Foundation will host two exceptional evenings as part of the Recital Series, beginning on December 10 with award-winning violinist Lisa Batiashvili and rising piano star Giorgi Gigashvili. Their programme explores the contrasts between the bold grandeur of Beethoven, the brilliance of Bartók, the shimmering beauty of Franck’s Violin Sonata, and a new work by Joseph Bardanashvili.
On December 11, pianist Minsoo Sohn follows with a performance of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, presenting all 24 preludes and fugues in celebration of the composer’s enduring legacy.
The Recital Series concludes on December 16 with a private performance at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, featuring oud virtuosos Saif Al Naqbi and Ahmed Al Mansouri, joined by qanun player Dr Noura Al Mazrouei. Drawing on their training at Bait Al Oud, the trio will bring together classical and traditional Arabic music through intricate compositions, expressive melodies, and a performance rooted in cultural expression.
The Abroad Programme
Extending the Festival’s commitment to cultural exchange beyond the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Festival’s Abroad programme also continues its international journey this winter with a series of cultural engagements in the United States.
On December 4, the New York Arabic Orchestra will perform a special concert in Washington, D.C., in collaboration with the Middle East Institute, showcasing the rich traditions of Arabic music alongside an educational programme to promote cross-cultural understanding.
To close the international season, the UN Chamber Music Society, in collaboration with the festival, will celebrate World Arabic Language Day on December 18 with a classical and contemporary concert at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York.
Cultivating Talent
Developing the next generation of creative talent has remained central to Abu Dhabi Festival’s mission, reflected in its longstanding commitment to education, community engagement and artistic development.
In 2026, the newly launched Festival Academy will offer selected student musicians and dancers from across the UAE intensive training, open rehearsals, masterclasses and performance opportunities with Festival artists.
Festival in Focus will introduce young audiences to world-class music and dance through school performances and exclusive youth matinées, expanding learning opportunities in coordination with the Ministry of Education and the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge.
During the Festival, the Abu Dhabi Festival Youth Orchestra will also present a special public concert, celebrating the next generation of orchestral talent.
Additionally, from November 6 to December 6, the Festival will also introduce Children’s Biennale, the first outdoor children’s biennale in the Middle East, at Umm Al Emarat Park in partnership with National Gallery Singapore, Umm Al Emarat Park, and Salayel Hospitality.
Anchored in the spirit of the UAE’s Year of Family, the month-long Biennale, curated by Dana Al Mazrouei, brings together nine artists: UAE-based artists Alia Al Shamsi, Aya Afaneh, Hana El-Sagini, Moza Almatrooshi, Moza Almazrouei, Mira Almazrooei, Nada Almosa, and Sarah Afaneh, alongside Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho. They will transform Umm Al Emarat Park into a space where audiences of all ages can encounter art through touch, sound, movement and light.
The Biennale will also offer family sessions, workshops, and an interactive guide – all designed to encourage creativity, environmental awareness and family bonding.
Through its community, education, and international initiatives, the 2026 programme reflects ADMAF’s three-decade legacy of artistic excellence, emerging talent and cultural exchange, reaffirming Abu Dhabi Festival’s enduring role in connecting communities through the shared language of the arts.
Early bird tickets are available now. For ticket information and to learn more, visit www.abudhabifestival.ae.