Liwa Festival Rings in 2026 with Music, Fireworks and Unity

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 1 January 2026:

Liwa International Festival ushered in the New Year with a spectacular and wide-reaching celebration, transforming the Al Dhafra Region into a vibrant hub of music, light and shared festivity. The New Year’s Eve programme unfolded across multiple locations, offering visitors a seamless blend of live performances, countdown moments and breathtaking visual displays set against the dramatic desert landscape.

The centrepiece of the celebrations took place at the Grand Arena, where a live concert brought together four prominent Arab artists—Hamad Al Ameri, Khalid Abdulrahman, Aseel Hameem and Fouad Abdulwahed. Their performances drew large crowds and created an electric atmosphere as audiences gathered to celebrate the final moments of 2025.

As midnight approached, the festival delivered a fully synchronised New Year experience. Fireworks illuminated the sky simultaneously from Tal Moreeb, Liwa Village and the iconic LIWA sign, producing a sweeping, panoramic display that could be seen across the festival grounds and far beyond. The coordinated spectacle highlighted the scale of the event and united thousands of visitors in a shared countdown to 2026.

Throughout the evening, Liwa Walk came alive with continuous music performances, energising public spaces and building anticipation for the midnight celebrations. From 11:00pm onwards, the festival soundtrack was also broadcast live on 87.7 FM, enabling guests across different areas of the festival to tune in and experience the countdown together, no matter where they were located.

Adding to the immersive atmosphere, large-scale projections were cast across the surrounding dunes, turning the desert itself into a dynamic canvas of light and motion. These visual elements enhanced the sense of occasion and reinforced Liwa International Festival’s reputation for delivering ambitious, large-scale cultural celebrations.

Together, the music, fireworks, projections and shared moments created an unforgettable New Year’s Eve, as thousands gathered across the desert to welcome 2026 in a spirit of unity, celebration and spectacle.