- Coldplay, Andrea Bocelli and other global acts headline Abu Dhabi season.
- Major sports include Formula 1, NBA Games and UFC 308 this year.
- Family festivals, Saadiyat Nights and Liwa celebrations enrich cultural programming.
- MICHELIN Guide Food Festival, Animenia and public art debut this season.
Abu Dhabi is turning up the volume on passion this 2024-25 season, with a packed program across music, sport, culture and food. The Abu Dhabi Calendar, presented by Steve Harvey and Ahmed Al Jasmi, maps headline concerts, championship sports and family festivals across the capital to create a full season of must-see moments. Expect big names, immersive festivals and plenty of reasons to plan weekends ahead.
Music anchors the season with a broad, international line up that spans stadium shows and intimate cultural nights. The calendar opens with high-profile festivals and award-season highlights, followed by October performances from names like Backstreet Boys and Take That, and November bills including SZA and A.R. Rahman. December is stacked around the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Maroon 5, Muse and Eminem set to perform, and Andrea Bocelli will mark New Year’s Eve with a special Emirates Palace concert. Coldplay returns in early 2025, rounding out a season that blends pop spectacle with artistic programming.
Sporting fans get heavyweight fixtures, from the NBA Abu Dhabi Games and UFC 308 to the world-class Formula 1 finale and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Cultural programming layers in family-friendly festivals and first-time events, including the debut of Animenia for anime fans, the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, and an expanded Abu Dhabi Art Fair. The season also hosts International Jazz Day in April 2025 under UNESCO patronage, Culture Summit Abu Dhabi in spring, and the beloved Al Hosn Festival, giving residents a mix of heritage, contemporary art and large-scale performances.
Families and food lovers have plenty to choose from, with Disney On Ice and Life of Pi on stage, Liwa Village and Yas Winter Fest for seasonal thrills, and the MICHELIN Guide Food Festival Abu Dhabi for culinary discovery. New experiences such as Bubble World and the Coffee Festival add playful, hands-on options. The calendar is designed to speak to locals and visitors alike, whether you want a headline concert, a cultural weekend, or a family day out in the capital.
Passion is the Occasion makes Abu Dhabi a year-round showcase for sport, music, culture and food. Check the Abu Dhabi Calendar for full listings, ticketing and booking windows, and plan your season of events now to secure the best seats and festival passes!
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