Abu dhabi: The 23rd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival will take place in the emirate from October 10 to December 19, 2026, under the theme ‘Wisdom of Culture.’ This year, the festival celebrates the United Arab Emirates as a living example of cultural wisdom and a global platform for dialogue and cultural exchange.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the main program in the capital builds on the continued success of the Abu Dhabi Festival’s international program, which has attracted more than 142,000 visitors in the United States, Korea, Austria, Spain, and Lebanon so far in 2026. These international achievements mark a new phase for the festival in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE National Orchestra will inaugurate the Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 season with a symphonic evening at Etihad Arena on October 10, 2026, conducted by Fran§ois Lopez-Ferrere and featuring pianist David Gricoli, one of the most promising young talents in classical music. This opening evening will celebrate the artistic excellence of national talents and Emirati artists.
Further demonstrating its commitment to bringing world-class artistic experiences to Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Festival will host Hans Zimmer, one of the most celebrated composers and music producers of our time, in a performance at Etihad Arena on November 13, 2026. The show will reinterpret his most famous film scores in musical arrangements that blend orchestral power with electronic effects, making it a key highlight of Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar.
The festival also celebrates family bonds and the values of unity and shared creativity through the arts. In November 2026, it will host the Children’s Biennale, the first open-air art biennale dedicated to children in the Arab world. Children will collaborate with trained artists to create artworks using sustainable materials, and their creations will be displayed throughout Umm Al Emarat Park.
The 2026 festival program embodies the spirit of cultural exchange that has been at the heart of the Abu Dhabi Festival’s mission since its inception in 2004, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation in 1996.