Experience Abu Dhabi has teamed up with legendary artist, songwriter and producer will.i.am to unveil and celebrate its biggest events season yet, with more than 150 back-to-back events taking place across the emirate over the next six months.
Packed with a diverse line-up of activities and experiences for every resident and visitor, the latest edition of Abu Dhabi Calendar combines perfect sunny weather with highlights including Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts headlined by Ava Max, Tiësto and Foo Fighters, thrilling NBA and UFC events, cultural festivals, interactive family shows, and more unmissable performances.
Foodies can also indulge in the region’s first and biggest Michelin Food Festival along with the return of Taste of Abu Dhabi, MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants and Abu Dhabi Culinary Season.
The calendar’s cultural programming, museum exhibitions, and educational initiatives shine a light on the UAE’s rich history and heritage, with a diverse offering of visual and performing arts activities.
Music lovers can expect a diverse mix of acts and artists, with something for everyone – from top-billed contemporary artists from the Umsiyat Music Series and performances by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Brian Tyler, Vasily Petrenko and Timothy Chooi, to Nancy Ajram and Spacetoon Orchestra at the Mother of the Nation festival and Liwa Village.
The new season will also feature the return of annual book festivals in Al Ain Book and Al Dhafra which serve as pivotal celebrations of Emirati literature and culture, providing unique opportunities to connect with eminent writers, publishers, and artists from the UAE.
Adding to list of original Experience Abu Dhabi events, the inaugural Saadiyat Nights promises weekly live entertainment on the beach from December through to February 2024. Another first for the emirate and the region is the World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi GP, which will deliver adrenaline-fueled excitement for the penultimate round of WSX Championship.
Celebrating the winter sun, Yas Island is set to host exciting seasonal festivities across its attractions, including Winter Fest at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and the Winter Spectacular at Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, the Middle East debut of Broadway’s Hamilton, set for January 2024 at Etihad Arena, has announced an additional week of shows due to popular demand.
The reveal of Abu Dhabi Calendar’s expansive roster of events follows the launch of Experience Abu Dhabi’s ‘Can’t Wait to Winter’ campaign – featuring Indian superstar Ranveer Singh, Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei, and the Gulf region’s legendary comedic duo Dawood Hussein and Hasan Al Ballam.
Abu Dhabi Calendar’s complete events line-up is now available on the Experience Abu Dhabi website, allowing residents and visitors to plan their ‘must-see’ event schedule for the upcoming season.
An unmissable musical line-up
- Robbie Williams XXV Tour: Taking centre stage for an unforgettable evening of pure entertainment, the veteran singer-songwriter is ready to mesmerise fans with his energetic showmanship, infectious charisma, and a repertoire of timeless classics that comprises 25 years of hits. Live at Etihad Arena, Yas Island on 18 October
- Force of Nature featuring Natalia Osipova: Emirates Palace hosts Natalia Osipova on 12 October
- Al Zaman Al Jameel Festival: Focused on Egyptian and MENA region music from the nineties, the festival will take place on 3 and 4 November featuring Wael Kfoury, Hani Shaker, Ehab Toufic, Hameed Alshaari and Hesham Abbas
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Vasily Petrenko and Timothy Chooi on 3 November at the Emirates Palace
- Brian Tyler Live in Concert: An evening of cinematic sounds awaits, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and renowned film music composer Brian Tyler, alongside Vasily Petrenko and Timothy Chooi live at Etihad Park on 4 November
- Hyperound K-Fest Abu Dhabi 2023: An electrifying one-day festival that will bring the best of K-pop music and culture to Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on 11 November
- Arijit Singh: The King of Bollywood Playback singing will be performing live at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on 18 November
- MOTN Concerts: International, regional and local talents such as Nancy Ajram and Spacetoon Orchestra are set to play at the Mother of the Nation festival from November 2023 to January 2024
- Saadiyat Nights: Weekly musical acts will take to the stage on Saadiyat Island for this inaugural and homegrown Experience Abu Dhabi event running from December 2023 to February 2024
Thrilling championships and sporting action
- NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023: Following last year’s sell-out success, the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves will go head-to-head for two pre-season games at Etihad Arena on 5 and 7 October
- Abu Dhabi Showdown Week 2023 and UFC 294: The UFC® returns to Abu Dhabi with UFC® 294, bringing week-long city-wide activations, fan events, athlete meet-and-greets, fitness challenges, nightlife parties, F&B offerings and much more from 16-22 October
- World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi GP: Taking place for the first time in the region, the penultimate round of WSX Championship promises adrenaline-fuelled excitement on 4 and 5 November
- Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: The 15th F1 Abu Dhabi Prix season finale promises to be bigger and more exciting than ever, with an iconic sunset race and world-class after-race concerts between 23 and 26 November
- Abu Dhabi T10 League: The seventh Abu Dhabi T10 cricket season will see eight teams battle it out on the field between 28 November and 9 December, including last year’s tournament winners Deccan Gladiators along with Bangla Tigers, Delhi Bulls and Team Abu Dhabi
- World Tennis League: With its unique combination of high-level sports and world-class entertainment, World Tennis League will enthral sports fans with its schedule of games and musical extravaganzas between 21 and 24 December
Family fun and entertainment
- Disney On Ice Presents 100 Years of Wonder: The emirate will welcome back this ever popular family show between 11 and 15 October at Etihad Arena, this time celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary
- Mother of the Nation Festival: The annual celebration of world-class live entertainment, culinary experiences, pop-up stores, and a plethora of activities will return from 15 November 2023 – 1 January 2024 across Abu Dhabi and expand into Al Ain and Al Dhafra
- Abu Dhabi International Boat Show (ADIBS): An unmissable lifestyle experience, offering an exclusive opportunity to explore a fantastic line-up of yachts, sailing boats, house boats, fishing, water sports and marine equipment presented by leading international and local brands taking place from 9-12 November at ADNEC Marina
- Abu Dhabi Winter Shopping Season: Offering residents an unparalleled retail experience, Abu Dhabi Winter Season will run from 24 November 2023 to 31 January 2024
- The Giant Italian Circus (Al Ain): A must-visit event for families, The Giant Italian Circus will feature more than 40 comedy, musician, sport, kids and family entertainment shows with more than a hundred talents performing in Al Ain Square between 7 November and 8 December
- Storm the Block: Putting local comics talent on the global map and developing a comics ecosystem in the UAE, Sandstorm’s Storm the Block event will see the convergence of local and international culture and art from 8-10 December
- Liwa Village: The second edition of Liwa Village, hosted from 8 to 31 December at Moreeb Dune, is set to expand this year to include new IP for kids and families every weekend along with local, regional and internationally popular artists set to dial up the celebrations
- The Illusionist Magic Show: World’s best-selling touring magic show is set to take to the stage of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on 9 and 10 December, with a range of magical performances that will leave the audience questioning what is real and an illusion
- Saadiyat Beach Wellness Festival: The five-day wellness festival taking place across Saadiyat Island from 10-14 January 2024 will introduce tailored wellness programmes with international figures such as Sadhguru delivering sessions
- Hamilton Broadway Show: The Tony®, Grammy®, Olivier, and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, HAMILTON, will make its Middle East debut at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena from 17 January until 4 February 2024
- Middle East Film & Comic Con 2024: The world-famous pop culture festival that unites movie, TV and comic lovers across the globe is set to return to Abu Dhabi between 9 and 11 February 2024
- Scooby Doo and The Lost City of Gold: One of the most beloved international franchises of all time, Scooby Doo will bring its world of mystery and laughter to Abu Dhabi on 2 and 3 March 2024
- Cirque du Soleil: For its Abu Dhabi debut, Cirque du Soleil promises to take guests of all ages on a journey filled with extraordinary acrobatics, mesmerising dance performances, and captivating circus-like acts, taking the stage at Etihad Arena in April 2024
Captivating cultural experiences
- Letters of Light at Louvre Abu Dhabi: Featuring some of the oldest texts of the three monotheistic religions, this exhibition is held in partnership with Bibliothèque nationale de France and France Muséums and will run until 14 January 2024
- Sheikh Rohani Theatre Play: Featuring Kuwaiti artist Hassan Al Balam, this theatrical extravaganza will take the audience on a journey of drama and comedy as it hits Abu Dhabi on 6 and 7 October
- Abu Dhabi Classics: A new season of dynamic classical and traditional musical performances in the UAE capital brings a line-up of world-renowned orchestras and soloists from 12 October until 4 November
- The Traditional Handicrafts Festival: Celebrate the artisans and craftsmanship behind some of the most cherished Emirati crafts and practices at the Traditional Handicrafts Festival, taking place from 1 – 20 November at Souq Al Qattara in Al Ain
- Al Ain Book Festival: This prominent platform for the local and regional publishing and creative industry will provide unique opportunities to hear from and interact with writers, publishers and painters from 19-25 November
- Abu Dhabi Art Fair 2023: In its landmark 15th edition, Abu Dhabi Art will present its biggest fair to date with 92 galleries from 31 countries participating. The fair will run between 22 to 26 November at Manarat Al Saadiyat
- Al Dhafra Book Festival: A celebration of Emirati literature, the event will provide a unique opportunity to network with writers, publishers and illustrators from the UAE from 4-10 December
- Al Hosn Festival: From 19-28 January 2024 at Al Hosn site, step back in time and immerse yourself in Emirati traditions, from hospitality and food to experiencing national dress, customs, performances and crafts
- Maritime Heritage Festival: Celebrating the seafaring traditions of the UAE, the festival features a cultural programme of craftsmanship, performances, workshops and culinary experiences, taking place from 23 February – 3 March 2024 at the Abu Dhabi Corniche
Gastronomy and culinary
- Exceptional Chef Series: The Abu Dhabi Exceptional Chef Series will see 12 Michelin-starred chefs host unforgettable dining experiences, including Chef’s Kitchen activations and intimate Four Hands Dinners, showcasing the very best of local and international cuisine. The most exciting culinary offering in the region is taking place in multiple restaurants around the city until 15 October
- Abu Dhabi Culinary Season: The emirate’s annual six-week food festival will take place from 15 October to 5 December across the UAE capital, delivering a uniquely diverse schedule of experiences across a range of cuisines, styles and price points
- Taste of Abu Dhabi: Three days of enjoying the trendiest up-and-coming restaurants in the city, a celebrity chef line-up like never before, and an all-new music concept, from 10 to 12 November in Gateway Park
- MICHELIN Food Festival: The region’s first MICHELIN food event will promote and celebrate the diverse food culture of the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi’s selection of restaurants, taking place at Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Park from 7 to 10 December
- MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants: This event on 13 February will celebrate the best places to eat across the 19 countries in the MENA region, with unforgettable dining experiences, recognition for the region’s top eateries, thought-provoking conversations and more
- The Open Fire Food Festival by Steve Harvey: An unparalleled journey celebrating the diverse culinary traditions of various cultures, with BBQs reigning supreme – taking place 24 – 25 February 2024, at Abu Dhabi Hill, Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island
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