From Japanese dining previews to celebrity chefs, Yas Island has a packed November weekend in store.
- Two upcoming restaurant concepts offer exclusive first tastes in Abu Dhabi.
- Sixteen restaurants serve signature plates and festival-only culinary creations.
- Gino D’Acampo, Thomas Straker and Rachel Allen headline cooking sessions.
- Candy Land, live music and family activities fill the festival grounds.
November weekends in the UAE are made for outdoor dining, long evenings and discovering somewhere new to eat. This year, an Abu Dhabi food festival is giving visitors another reason to head towards Yas Island, with 16 restaurant pop-ups, celebrity chefs and two exclusive dining previews. Taste of Abu Dhabi 2026 returns from 13 to 15 November, promising three days where food discoveries share the spotlight with music, workshops and family entertainment.
Abu Dhabi Food Festival brings two exciting restaurant debuts
For anyone who enjoys discovering a restaurant before it becomes the city’s next popular reservation, the festival has something particularly interesting. 99 | Tanjun and La Broche by Bocuse will offer visitors an exclusive first taste ahead of their anticipated Abu Dhabi openings.
Japanese dining takes a contemporary direction at 99 | Tanjun, where the Gyu Robata brings together layered beef, aka miso and chilli garlic rayu. Meanwhile, La Broche by Bocuse is serving a signature French rotisserie chicken sandwich with a crusty baguette and dipping sauce. Both are worth a stop. These previews give food lovers an early look at two concepts before they open their doors in the capital.
Across the festival grounds, 16 restaurants will serve three to five tasting dishes each, making it easier to build a food trail without committing to one restaurant. Soraya’s slow-cooked beef croquette with tomato and okra stew, Oak Room’s smoked cheddar sliders with truffle aioli, Marcella’s salt cod croquettes and Almayass’s grilled lamb chops offer plenty of reasons to pace yourself. Save room for dessert.
Other participating restaurants include ERGON Deli & Cafe, Beetza, Villa Toscana, The Director’s Club, Ting Irie, Pincode by Kunal Kapur, Ramen Bar, LENTO, Desert Lotus and Paradiso. There is plenty to explore.
Celebrity chefs, live-fire cooking and hands-on workshops
Watching a chef work at close quarters can make an ordinary afternoon considerably more interesting. At the Taste Cook School and Taste Chefs Hub, visitors can catch Gino D’Acampo, Thomas Straker and Rachel Allen, alongside other culinary talents. The Keeta Fire Pit adds another layer, with barbecue demonstrations and live-fire sessions.
Pasta enthusiasts can join Jo’s KITSCHEN for 30-minute, hands-on pasta-making workshops, while SHOT Coffee hosts free barista sessions covering coffee beans, roasting and brewing. Coffee lovers, take note. These are useful little experiences to fit between restaurant stops.
Taste of Abu Dhabi 2026: The three-day entertainment schedule
Friday, 13 November, opens with cooking appearances from Rachel Allen, Gino D’Acampo’s evening fire-pit session and chefs including Vanessa Bayma and Jenny Morris. Music across the JD Stage includes Saif & Sound, Aston Wylie and Daquiri, while ABRI Duo and Georgia & Scott perform on the Dubai92 Stage.
Saturday, 14 November, brings Thomas Straker and Gino D’Acampo to the Taste Cook School, alongside Rachel Allen and Jenny Morris. The Keeta Fire Pit features Thomas Straker’s evening session. Music highlights include The Nomads DXB, Tone Deaf, DJ Akmaral and Adam Mezi. Families can also catch face painting in the Activation Zone.
Sunday, 15 November, wraps up the weekend with Thomas Straker, Gino D’Acampo and Rachel Allen appearing across the cooking stages. The fire-pit programme features Andrew Dickens and Joseph Nesbitt-Larking, while the JD Stage welcomes Kem Brian Trio, Whiteboy, Saif & Sound and Amine Cherit. Acoustic Energy and Amine Cherit also appear on the Dubai92 Stage.
The weekend has its own rhythm. Visitors can check the published daily schedules to plan around individual sessions.
Candy Land makes room for little festival-goers
Parents looking for an outing that keeps children entertained beyond the dinner table will find a new attraction this year. The Candy Land Kids Zone features Candy Mountain, The Sugar Spin and Marshmallow Meadow, alongside inflatable rides, games and creative activities such as decorating chef hats and aprons. Activities and rides are individually priced.
Away from the cooking stages, visitors can explore an artisan vendor village, brand activations and live entertainment throughout the weekend. Licensed lounges and gardens will cater to guests aged 21 and above, while Drink Dry brings alcohol-free beverage options to the festival.
From discovering two future dining destinations to catching a live-fire cooking session, Taste of Abu Dhabi has plenty to fill a November weekend. The festival runs from 13 to 15 November at Gateway Park North, Yas Island. Advance tickets start at AED 80, so book ahead and plan your food trail!
For tickets, restaurant menus and the latest festival updates, visit www.tasteofabudhabifestival.com.
