On Stage This Season: Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi Reimagines the Performing Arts

Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation is setting the tone for a remarkable season of live performance—one that moves seamlessly between classical ballet and experimental theatre, heritage-driven soundscapes and contemporary musical fusion. With an ambitious programme stretching from January to May 2026, the Foundation once again positions itself as one of the UAE’s most dynamic platforms for cultural exchange and artistic exploration.

From iconic international productions to immersive Emirati-rooted experiences, this season invites audiences not merely to watch, but to participate—to journey through stories told with bodies, voices, rhythm and memory.

Classics Revisited: Ballet at the Forefront

The season opens in grand style with the Russian State Ballet Mari El, presenting Romeo and Juliet on 9 January 2026, followed by Cinderella on 10 January in partnership with Art For All. Lavish costumes, sweeping orchestration and virtuosic choreography promise to transport audiences straight into the heart of these timeless narratives.

February brings another highlight: the English National Ballet’s acclaimed interpretation of Akram Khan’s Giselle, screened on 15 February 2026 with the support of the British Embassy UAE. Known for its emotionally charged movement language and contemporary reinterpretation of the romantic classic, the production exemplifies the Cultural Foundation’s commitment to showcasing bold global perspectives.

Stories for Young and Curious Minds

Families and young theatre-goers are equally catered for. Julia Donaldson’s beloved tale Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book arrives on stage from 23–24 January 2026, bringing playful storytelling, colour and imagination into the spotlight.

Later in the season, Emirati theatre takes centre stage with Reema: Queen of the Desert on 27 March 2026—a visually striking production combining puppetry, movement and narrative to create a poetic exploration rooted in regional storytelling traditions.

Tracing Sound: From Heritage to Innovation

Music lovers will find plenty to savour throughout the programme. The exhibition-concert experience Journey of Emirati Music: From Cassette to Digital, running from 17 January to 1 February 2026 during the Al Hosn Festival, charts the evolution of local sound culture—linking archival recordings to today’s experimental expressions.

Guitar virtuoso Iyad Rimawi performs on 7 February, followed by the evocative Tarab evening Riyahiyat featuring Lamia Riyahi on 11 April, an immersive, female-led collaboration with Highways Arabia.

Closing the musical arc is Boom Diwan’s Khaleeji Jazz concert on 1 May 2026, where Gulf rhythms meet contemporary improvisation—an energetic fusion that reflects the region’s constantly evolving sonic identity.

Where Heritage Meets Experimentation

Across the season, the Cultural Foundation’s curatorial vision is unmistakable: to honour tradition while encouraging innovation, and to use performance as a bridge between cultures, generations and artistic disciplines.

Whether through reinterpretations of European classics, children’s theatre, Emirati-focused storytelling or genre-blending concerts, each event contributes to a broader narrative—one in which Abu Dhabi continues to emerge as a global crossroads for creativity.

Audiences can expect evenings that linger long after the curtain falls: moments of stillness, wonder, exhilaration and discovery—experienced within the historic architecture of the Cultural Foundation itself, where contemporary life pulses through one of the capital’s most storied cultural landmarks.

Source and photo: Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi