The Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026-27 opens on Friday 30 October 2026 at Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi and runs for 136 days until Sunday 14 March 2027. Based on last season, expect it to open from 4pm to midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Friday and Saturday, with entry at AED 10 and free entry for children under 3, people aged 60 and over and people of determination. Fireworks run every Saturday night, with record-breaking shows for National Day and New Year’s Eve.
At a glance
- Dates
- 30 October 2026 to 14 March 2027 (confirmed)
- Where
- Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, about 40 minutes from the city
- Hours
- Expected 4pm to midnight; to 1am Friday, Saturday and public holidays
- Entry
- Expected AED 10; free for under 3s, 60+ and people of determination
- Fireworks
- Saturdays at 10pm last season, plus big shows for National Day and New Year
- Allow
- 3 to 5 hours
Last checked: 13 October 2026. The 2026-27 dates are confirmed by the organisers; hours, prices and show times below follow the 2025-26 season until the new schedule is published.
On this page
Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026-27 at a glance
| 2026-27 (this season) | 2025-26 (last season) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | 30 October 2026 to 14 March 2027 | 1 November 2025 to 22 March 2026 |
| Length | 136 days | About 142 days |
| Hours | To be published | 4pm to midnight Sunday to Thursday; 4pm to 1am Friday and Saturday |
| Entry | To be published | AED 10; free for under 3s, 60+ and people of determination |
| Theme | To be announced | “Hayyakum”, meaning welcome |
| Scale | Cultural, entertainment and sports programme | 4,000+ events, 750 large shows, 22 country pavilions |
The festival is held under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and supervised by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Chairman of the Presidential Court. It celebrates the legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, through Emirati heritage, world cultures, sport and entertainment.
Timings and tickets
| Ticket or time | Last season | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday to Thursday | 4pm to midnight | Quieter, good for families |
| Friday, Saturday and public holidays | 4pm to 1am | Busiest nights; fireworks on Saturday |
| Entry | AED 10 per person | Online or at the gate |
| Free entry | Children under 3, seniors 60+, people of determination | |
| Special nights | Can cost more | New Year’s Eve tickets in particular |
| VIP boxes | Sold separately | For the big fireworks nights |
Rides, games and food inside are paid separately. Book entry on the official Sheikh Zayed Festival website, or pay at the gate on normal nights. We will update these rows the day the 2026-27 schedule is published.
Fireworks, drones and the big nights
| Night | What happens | Last season |
|---|---|---|
| Every Saturday | Fireworks over Al Wathba | 10pm |
| Eid Al Etihad (around 2 December) | Union Day celebrations with fireworks, laser and drone shows, concerts and traditional performances | Over the National Day holiday |
| Union Parade | A parade celebrating national unity | 7 December, 5pm |
| New Year’s Eve | The festival’s biggest night: a 62-minute fireworks display in five stages from 8pm and a 6,500-drone show, with several Guinness World Records attempted | 8pm to past midnight |
| Al Wathba Nights | Weekly concerts with Arab and international artists | Weekly through the season |
New Year’s Eve cue: it is one of the most crowded nights in Abu Dhabi. Book tickets early, arrive by 6pm, and expect a long wait to leave the car parks after midnight.
What is inside the festival
- Country pavilions: 22 countries took part last season with national pavilions of crafts, food, shopping and heritage shows.
- Heritage Village: Emirati crafts, traditional industries, falconry, camels and folk performances, plus the Food Corner for local dishes.
- Emirates Fountain: nightly water, light and laser shows set to music, with water jets rising around 50 metres, LED screens and holograms.
- Al Wathba Winterland: last season’s new entertainment zone with family rides, a roller coaster, a haunted house, bowling, an ice rink, a dinosaur park and a VR cinema.
- Al Wathba Boulevard: cafés, restaurants and shops, including Emirati youth businesses supported by the Khalifa Fund.
- Kids’ Area, Kids’ Theatre and Fun Fair City: shows, games, workshops and classic fairground rides for children; Fun Fair City is calmest on weekday afternoons.
- Al Wathba Custom Show: a showcase of custom and classic cars in recent seasons.
- Rare Animals Reserve: rare wildlife species with an environmental message.
- Camel Exhibition: champion presidential racing camels.
Heritage competitions and sport
| Event | What it is | Usual timing |
|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Camel Race | Camel racing with Emirati and Arab participants, with the Emirates Camel Racing Federation | Late November to early December |
| Al Wathba Date Festival | Date packaging competitions, a traditional market, palm seedlings and more than AED 2 million in prizes, run by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority | January; the 2026 edition ran 9 to 18 January |
| Sheikh Zayed Traditional Dhow Sailing Race | Dhow races by boat size, with the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club | January and February |
| Falconry competitions | Traditional falconry contests | Through the season |
| Emirati Traditional Cuisine Contest | Home cooks compete with local dishes | Through the season |
| Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award | Farming and livestock competitions | During the season |
| Ramadan Sports Tournament | Evening sport with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council | Ramadan, expected from around 8 February 2027 |
Best time to visit
- For families: a Sunday to Thursday evening from 4pm, when the children’s areas and rides are calmer.
- For fireworks: Saturday night; arrive by 7pm to park and find a spot.
- For heritage: the camel race and Union Day period in late November and early December, or the Date Festival in January.
- Weather: November to February evenings are cool in the open desert at Al Wathba; bring a light jacket in December and January.
- Ramadan: hours shift later and the programme changes; check the festival’s announcements once Ramadan begins.
Parking, getting there and facilities
The festival grounds are at Al Wathba, south-east of Abu Dhabi city, about 40 minutes by car from the Corniche or the Louvre Abu Dhabi and around 75 to 90 minutes from Dubai. There are large festival car parks, an extension car park and designated spaces for people of determination, plus valet parking at the gates. On weekends and big nights the car parks fill early, so arrive before 7pm. Taxis and public transport from Abu Dhabi city also serve the site in the season, and the festival runs TokTok rides inside the grounds.
Facilities include wheelchairs, strollers and shopping carts, a nursery, a mosque, toilets with accessible washrooms, a medical centre and ambulance, ATMs, a police station, an information desk and lost and found.
Rules for visitors
- No pets.
- No bicycles or riding of any kind inside the grounds.
- Modest dress, and no public displays of affection.
- Follow staff instructions at the fireworks viewing areas and keep children close in the crowds.
- What’s on this winter: every seasonal attraction and its status.
- Liwa Festival 2026-27: dune racing and camping at Moreeb, from 11 December.
- Al Wathba Wetland Reserve: flamingos near the festival grounds.
- Places to visit in Abu Dhabi: the capital’s highlights.
Change log
- 13 October 2026: page created with the confirmed 2026-27 dates; hours, prices and show times follow the 2025-26 season until the new schedule is published.
Sheikh Zayed Festival FAQs
When is the Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026-27?
The festival runs from 30 October 2026 to 14 March 2027 at Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, a total of 136 days.
What are the Sheikh Zayed Festival timings?
Last season it opened from 4pm to midnight Sunday to Thursday and from 4pm to 1am on Friday, Saturday and public holidays. The 2026-27 hours are expected to follow the same pattern.
How much is the Sheikh Zayed Festival ticket?
Entry was AED 10 per person last season, with free entry for children under 3, people aged 60 and over and people of determination. Special nights such as New Year’s Eve can cost more.
When are the fireworks at Sheikh Zayed Festival?
Last season there were fireworks every Saturday at 10pm, plus large fireworks and drone shows for Eid Al Etihad and New Year’s Eve.
Where is the Sheikh Zayed Festival?
At Al Wathba, south-east of Abu Dhabi city, about 40 minutes by car from the Corniche and around 75 to 90 minutes from Dubai.
Is the Sheikh Zayed Festival good for kids?
Yes. It has a kids’ area and theatre, Winterland rides, an ice rink, a dinosaur park, camel and falconry displays and the Emirates Fountain shows.