Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 is under way, with a recital at Zayed National Museum on 30 October
The 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival opened at Etihad Arena with the UAE National Orchestra, and its programme continues with talks, a recital by Elham Al Marzooqi and Sooyeon Jun on 30 October and a Children's Biennale from 6 November.
Zayed National Museum, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
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The 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival, run by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), opened at Etihad Arena with a concert by the UAE National Orchestra. Conductor Francois Lopez-Ferrer led works by Suppe, Rachmaninoff and Dvorak, with Georgian pianist David Khrikuli as soloist. The foundation marks 30 years this year.
The festival's own programme lists what comes next. Riwaq Al Fikr, its series of talks, runs from 20 October to 23 November. On 30 October Elham Al Marzooqi and Sooyeon Jun give a recital at the performance area of Zayed National Museum, from 8pm to 9pm. A Children's Biennale art exhibition runs from 6 November to 6 December. Youth matinees, masterclasses and the Art @ Embassies events are by invitation.
Tickets for public events are sold through the festival's page on Platinumlist; prices for the recital are not listed on the festival website. Check the programme page at abudhabifestival.ae before you go, as the festival says more events are still to be added and the times of the talks are yet to be announced.
