All Day

Al Hosn Festival

Al Hosn Abu Dhabi

Two weeks of Emirati culture, past and present – "a living expression of Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage" – in what is probably the traditional heart of Abu Dhabi. Building on the success of the last festival, the 2025 event sees [ ... ]

AED 35

Sikka Art and Design Festival

Al Shindagha Dubai Creek, Dubai

The latest edition of what is being presented as one of Dubai Culture's flagship initiatives is back in Al Shindagha Historic District. We're not sure exactly what you'll get this year – the website wasn't working when last we tried [ ... ]

Free

Sweeney Todd

Stephen Sondheim's multi award winner arrives for a week-long stint at Dubai Opera. The tale of a barber whose life was destroyed by betrayal and sets on a path to bloody vengeance is punctuated by dark humour, shocking plot twists, [ ... ]

From AED360

Sharjah Biennial 16 opening programme

vrs Sharjah locations

Curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala and Zeynep Öz, Sharjah Biennial 16 features works by more than 190 participants, including over 200 new commissions. The SB16 Opening Programme weekend, which runs at locations in Sharjah City, [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register for specific events

LAST CHANCE Colour Gives Me Life

Firetti Contemporary Unit 29, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

A group show of works by Ludmilla Radchenko, Rachel K (above), Ihab Ahmad, Laurent Perbos, Yana Abramova and Samuele Ventanni curated by Celine Azem. The aim is to explore how colour extends beyond visual experience, "shaping memory, emotion, and perception [ ... ]

Free
Ongoing

Candlelight: From Mozart to Chopin

Jumeirah Al Qasr Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Dubai

Aldo Dotti plays a 65 minute programme of piano favourites, outdoors at the Jumeriah Al Qasr's Céleste poolside restuarant. The programme: Mozart: Rondo alla Turca from Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, K 331 Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 12 [ ... ]

From AED 180

Gidion’s Knot

The Junction Unit H72, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

Over the course of a parent/teacher conference, a grieving mother and an emotionally overwhelmed primary school teacher have a fraught conversation about the tragic suicide of the mother’s son. Gidion may have been bullied – or he may have been [ ... ]

AED 100

New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra: Jonathan Tetelman, Kyohei Sorita

Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

The New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1972; the charismatic Japanese conductor, Yutaka Sado, has been the music director since 2023 and he conducts two concerts to open the 2025 Abu Dhabi Festival. In this first concert, star tenor [ ... ]

From AED105

Vanessa Moreno Live at Jazz Avenue

Jass Lounge DIFC – Gate 2, Dubai

The acclaimed singer and composer known for blending MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) with jazz and contemporary influences continues to be a leading figure in contemporary Brazilian music. For this two-night residency, the top British jazz singer Emma Smith provides the [ ... ]

AED 175