Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi has announced its September–December 2026 season, featuring an array of international performances, art exhibitions, community activities, and the launch of the literary programme El Marmas.
The season kicks off on 17th September with Mid-Autumn Festival: A Moonment to Remember, featuring the China National Peking Opera Company alongside the Chinese Cultural Centre. Following closely, on 19th and 20th September, Dance of the Emerald Isle, created by former Lord of the Dance star Chris Hannon, takes the stage. Barcelona Flamenco Ballet will present Flamenco Romeo and Juliet on 26th September, with both productions presented under the banner of Art For All.
Jalsat Nights makes a return on 4th October with a performance by Emirati artist Muaded Al Kaabi, who is known for winning the Najm Al Khaleej 2006 title and for being a member of the UAE National Orchestra. The month continues with Anime Memories on 17th October, a celebration of anime soundtracks through a dynamic live concert.
From 21st to 24th October, the SCHLiNGEL ABU DHABI, an international film festival dedicated to children and youth, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region, unfolds with cinematic treasures. Meanwhile, Tenors of the XXI Century: World Hits About Love dazzles on 24th October, showcasing an array of opera arias, tangos, and international classics.
Family-friendly performances abound with Jonathan Rockefeller’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show on 6th and 7th November, featuring over 75 puppets. Another highlight is the child-friendly musical adaptation of Macbeth by S4K on 15th November.
A notable performance includes the Akram Khan Company‘s Thikra: Night of Remembering on 20th and 21st November, an innovative piece created with visual artist Manal AlDowayan. This all-female ensemble uniquely blends elements of Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance.
Enrico Macias wraps up the performance season with a concert on 12th December, celebrating his illustrious six-decade career in music. This concert, along with Anime Memories, Tenors of the XXI Century, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, is presented in partnership with Art For All.
In the realm of visual arts, the exhibition series and auction Zuleya 2026 – Year of the Family runs from 15th October 2026 to 15th January 2027. Organized by the Fatima Bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI), in collaboration with Mubadala and Dolphin Energy, the exhibition delves into the theme of “family unity” through various artworks, discussions, and workshops. Proceeds from a charity auction will aid FBMI’s projects focusing on health and education for disadvantaged children.
The season brings a solo exhibition by Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou from 12th November 2026 to 15th March 2027, showcasing her prowess in material exploration, gravity defiance, and spatial tension. Additionally, Shezad Dawood’s mid-career retrospective, Shezad Dawood: Skin of Dreams, continues to entice art enthusiasts until 20th September 2026.
Debuting this season, the El Marmas literary programme fuels reading, authorship, and public discourse until December. This includes the monthly reading series Memory Endurance, literary discussions under Read the World, the children’s Awal Badi Book Club, informal Writers Detox gatherings, and a Poetry Night in celebration of National Day.
Cultural Foundation will also be part of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair from 13th to 18th September, providing film and literature talks coupled with engaging children’s activities. The Awal Badi Forum on 14th and 15th December promises explorations in culture, memory, and heritage through various formats. The foundation’s Art Residency Programme opens applications for its next cycle in December.
Abu Dhabi Children’s Library extends its multilingual reading and creative learning programs, tailored for children up to age 14, along with the ever-popular Winter Camp running from December through January. The Children’s Art Centre offers an array of classes and workshops, with Al Marsam Al Hor and Bait Al Khatt providing courses across disciplines including painting, sculpture, pottery, fashion design, and Arabic calligraphy.
Admission to Cultural Foundation is free, with specific events requiring tickets. Operating hours are 9:00–20:00 from Saturday to Thursday and 14:00–20:00 on Fridays.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
