Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer will perform live at the 23rd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival later this year as the United Arab Emirates celebrates "wisdom of culture" with a season of performances.
Zimmer, one of the most celebrated film composers and music producers of his generation, will bring his groundbreaking arena spectacle to Etihad Arena on November 13, reimagining some of his most iconic cinematic scores as immersive orchestral and electronic soundscapes.
Under the theme of 'The Wisdom of Culture', the 2026 Abu Dhabi Festival will be held in the emirate from October 10 to December 19.
Running across the capital, the festival brings together leading UAE cultural institutions, Emirati performers and international artists across orchestral performances, jazz, ballet, dance, recitals and large-scale productions at Abu Dhabi’s landmark cultural venues.
The UAE National Orchestra, conducted by François López-Ferrer, will inaugurate the season at Etihad Arena on October 10 with a landmark symphonic evening, with acclaimed pianist David Khrikuli also performing on opening night.
The headline programme in Abu Dhabi builds on the continued success of Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad, which has attracted more than 142,000 visitors across the US, Korea, Austria, Spain and Lebanon so far this year.
Alongside its concert programme, and in celebration of the UAE’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of the Family, the festival will deliver its long-running community and education initiatives, widening access to arts, culture and music for schools, young people and families.
Families can also look forward to the debut of the Children’s Biennale in November, the Arab world’s first dedicated outdoor children’s art biennale, inviting children to co-create artworks with teaching artists using sustainable materials, with the resulting works displayed throughout Umm Al Emarat Park during November 2026.
The festival will also mark the 30th anniversary of its founding organisation The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation in 1996.
For the full line-up of performances across Abu Dhabi and to book tickets, please visit: www.abudhabifestival.ae.
Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 will be held from 10 October until 19 December, celebrating the UAE and showcasing Emirati and international talent, cultural exchange, and supporting UAE Year of Family aspirations through community and education initiatives. pic.twitter.com/sQ4fznKE9c
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