From traditional crafts and folk arts to music and contemporary performances, the new season of the Sheikh Zayed Festival brings together aspects of Emirati heritage and cultures from around the world. The festival opens in Abu Dhabi on Friday, October 30, 2026, and runs until March 14, 2027. Its 136-day programme features a diverse range of cultural, artistic, entertainment and sporting activities.
The festival is held under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan overseeing its progress. Its events coincide with several occasions, from UAE National Day and New Year's Eve to the holy month of Ramadan.
Emirati heritage is a central focus of the festival, showcased through handicrafts, traditional industries and folk arts, as well as activities related to camels, falcons and maritime heritage. These activities give visitors, particularly younger generations, the opportunity to learn about the trades, skills and customs that have helped shape everyday life in the UAE.
This cultural landscape is further enriched by international pavilions featuring heritage products and cultural performances from different countries. Participants include Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and the Gulf countries, alongside India, China, Japan and other countries. This allows visitors to discover a wide variety of traditions, crafts and arts in one place.
Music features prominently in the programme, with concerts by Arab and Gulf artists, alongside folk performances and family activities. The season also features new musical and theatrical productions, art and photography exhibitions, and the return of the heritage village, fountain shows and laser displays.
Fireworks and drone shows are also making a return, following previous editions in which some of these displays set records recognised by Guinness World Records. These activities are spread throughout the season, with programmes tied to national occasions and New Year's celebrations, as well as others dedicated to the month of Ramadan.
Alongside the cultural and artistic events, the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award is taking part with five accompanying festivals focusing on food, livestock, flowers, honey and plants, according to an announcement made on October 22.
The award's pavilion features 97 competitions across agricultural, livestock and food production, with total cash prizes worth AED 4 million. Visitors can also explore the winners' projects and learn about sustainable farming practices, expanding the festival's agricultural focus beyond introducing visitors to traditional heritage to showcasing production methods and issues related to sustainability.
This participation adds another dimension to the programme, placing food and agriculture alongside crafts and the arts as integral elements of community culture and everyday life. In traditional trades as in agricultural production, the relationship between people and their environment remains central, reflecting the knowledge and skills accumulated over generations to make the most of their surroundings.
Between the heritage village, international pavilions and stages, the festival offers visitors different ways to explore: learning about a craft, watching a folk performance, or discovering products and traditions from another country. With the season extending over more than four months, these encounters take on a changing rhythm shaped by the programme and the occasions celebrated throughout the festival.
With other cultures represented alongside Emirati heritage, visitors are given the opportunity to discover what makes human experiences unique, as well as the everyday details that people across cultures have in common.
