Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 reveals full line-up with Hans Zimmer and UAE National Orchestra

Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 has officially unveiled its complete lineup, featuring a diverse array of performances spanning orchestral music, opera, ballet, jazz and contemporary performance. Among the notable names confirmed are German composer Hans Zimmer and the UAE National Orchestra, whose participation marks a significant addition to the festival's cultural calendar. The event will run from October 10 to December 19, themed “Wisdom of Culture,” and will take place across multiple venues throughout the emirate. The festival will feature a wide range of artistic expressions, with the UAE National Orchestra kicking off the event on October 10 at Etihad Arena. This performance promises to be one of the largest ever staged by the ensemble, bringing together musicians from across the United Arab Emirates. The orchestra will collaborate with Georgian pianist David Khrikuli, recognized as a rising talent in the international music scene. The show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. On October 17, audiences can expect a captivating evening of operatic artistry at The Red Theater, located within the Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi. American-Canadian soprano Sondra Radvanovsky will perform a selection of arias and songs by composers such as Bellini, Verdi and Puccini, accompanied by Italian-American pianist Vincenzo Scalera. The program will also include pieces by Rachmaninoff, the famed “Letter” scene from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, and three works by Richard Strauss. The performance begins at 8 p.m. Hans Zimmer will make his long-awaited return to the Abu Dhabi Festival on November 13 at Etihad Arena, bringing his acclaimed The Next Level tour to the region. The concert will transform some of his most iconic film scores into a grand-scale production, blending orchestra, electronic music and immersive visual elements. Zimmer, known for his contributions to films such as The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception, Interstellar and Dune, will present these works through newly arranged versions and an enhanced live staging. The show is set to start at 8:30 p.m. The American Ballet Theatre will grace the stage at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on November 21, performing a repertoire curated by three distinguished American choreographers. The company will showcase Twyla Tharp’s Sextet, known for its playful and unconventional approach; Alexei Ratmansky’s Serenade after Plato’s Symposium, characterized by its solemn and reflective tone; and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, set to Tchaikovsky’s music. The performance begins at 8 p.m. Another highlight of the festival will be the Algarabia performance on November 26 at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, where musicians from Spain’s University of Navarra Symphony Orchestra will blend flamenco with Arab poetic traditions. The performance will involve dancers and actors from various disciplines, telling the story of an Arab girl exploring ancient botanical theories. Her intellectual pursuit aligns with the reverence of a Spanish florist for floral scents and colors. The show starts at 8 p.m. On November 29, the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental will host a special Verdi’s Opera Gala commemorating 125 years since the composer’s passing. The gala will feature soprano Maria Agresta and tenor Giorgio Berrugi, offering selections from Nabucco, I Vespri Siciliani, Otello and La Traviata, along with orchestral overtures and duets from Verdi’s broader oeuvre. The performance begins at 8 p.m. Further highlights include a performance by Georgian musicians Lisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili on December 10 at the Cultural Foundation, showcasing classical works by Beethoven, Bartók and Franck, plus a new composition by Israeli-Georgian composer Josef Bardanashvili. Korean-American pianist Minsoo Sohn will perform Book One of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier on December 11 at the same venue.