New Year’s Eve in the UAE never plays small. The skyline lights up, beaches turn into dance floors, and hotels roll out parties like movie scenes. For 2026, the celebrations come loaded with big-name international artists, premium dinner galas, and waterfront DJ stages that run well past midnight.
From Abu Dhabi’s grand palace lawns to decked-out Dubai beachfront venues, here’s a look at the confirmed global acts performing across the UAE as the country steps into 2026.
John Legend – Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi
A New Year’s Eve concert doesn’t get more cinematic than this. John Legend headlines a grand open-air gala at Emirates Palace, bringing a soulful soundtrack to a night of fireworks, sea views, and five-star hospitality. Guests are welcomed with a reception and multi-course dining before the performance begins around 10:30 pm.
The event blends luxury with intimacy — linen-draped tables on the palace grounds, live musicians, and that distinct John Legend presence that brings every lyric to life. At midnight, fireworks burst over the Arabian Gulf as the party rolls into an after-midnight celebration with international DJs.
This one is for those who want New Year’s Eve dressed in black tie, Champagne glasses, and music that hits differently in the fresh sea breeze.
Maroon 5 – Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
Atlantis knows how to deliver a New Year’s Eve that feels like the city in full bloom. Maroon 5 headlines the resort’s grand gala dinner, performing under the stars on a custom open-air stage.
The dinner setup is famously lavish — seafood towers, carving stations, sushi, caviar, free-flowing drinks, and a 30-piece band warming up the night before the headline set. With Palm Jumeirah’s skyline as the backdrop and fireworks over the sea, it’s the perfect mix of spectacle and sing-along hits from one of the world’s most enduring pop-rock bands.
Dubai loves a stage moment, and this one has “New Year’s Eve done right” written all over it.
CamelPhat & Mahmut Orhan – Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour
For those who prefer deep beats over ballads, Ushuaïa goes into club mode with CamelPhat and Mahmut Orhan headlining a high-energy waterfront NYE party.
CamelPhat brings their signature melodic big-room house sound, the kind that fills open air stages from Ibiza to Tomorrowland. Mahmut Orhan adds a world-electronic edge with layered textures and atmospheric builds.
The setting helps: open decks, dancing under the skyline, the marina waters catching glimmers of the fireworks as the countdown hits zero.
Expect a night that starts with sunset cocktails and ends well after the speakers cool down.
Chic & Nile Rodgers – Dubai Opera
Dubai Opera’s annual New Year’s Eve celebrations are known for elegance, and 2025’s headliner brings a legendary touch: Chic with Nile Rodgers.
Live disco, funk, and the kind of feel-good grooves that shaped music across generations fill the venue with electric energy. While the setting is refined — velvet seats, polished balconies, and butter-smooth acoustics — Rodgers turns every evening into a dancefloor.
As midnight arrives, crowds step outside to watch the Burj Khalifa fireworks, completing a night that mixes culture with celebration in pure downtown style.
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike – Zero Gravity, Dubai
Those chasing the festival atmosphere head straight to the famous New Year’s beach party at Zero Gravity. The venue hosts international EDM headliners year after year, and 2026 continues the tradition with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.
Imagine club-level energy on the sand — massive LED visuals, confetti cannons, open-air staging, the Gulf breeze, and fireworks bursting over the water. Guests dance under the skyline as lasers cut through the night and bass ripples across the beach.
It’s the ultimate party vibe — no ball gowns, just high-impact beats, palm trees, and a crowd that dances straight into the morning.
Hannah Wants – Soho Garden Meydan, Dubai
Soho Garden always draws strong electronic line-ups, and for NYE 2026, popular UK DJ Hannah Wants keeps the dancefloor alive with a house-focused set that comes with her signature underground sound.
This one has a different energy — no formal dinner service, no massive fireworks staging, just good music, up-close performance, and the lively crowd Soho Garden is known for.
If your perfect New Year celebration is a proper party that doesn’t slow down, this one fits.
New Year’s Eve in the UAE turns the country into a stage — intimate concerts, luxury gala dinners, electronic takeovers, and beachfront blowouts running into sunrise. Every venue offers a different version of the celebration, whether it’s soulful performances, pop-rock anthems, or club-driven DJ nights that define what the countdown feels like in the Emirates.
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