Abu Dhabi Festival 2025 guide: Orchestras, ballet, jazz and Japan as country of honour

Orchestral and percussion performances, as well as a ballet gala, are on the bill for Abu Dhabi Festival next year. Running from February until April, the programme will feature events at venues across the capital, including Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental and the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre . In celebration of over 50 years of diplomatic relations with the UAE, Japan is the country of honour. So expect some of the nation's best musicians and ensembles to feature at the event, under the theme Abu Dhabi – A World of Harmony. An international programme, titled Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad, will also take place, including a world premiere of the opera Pelleas et Melisande at the Opera National de Paris. This co-production with the renowned French institute will be directed by Canadian-Lebanese writer Wajdi Mouawad, with further details to be revealed soon. "The 22nd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival gathers us under its inspiring theme, Abu Dhabi – A World of Harmony, to embody the position of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, as a city that brings together endless cultures to meet, communicate, and exchange ideas, opportunities, and potential, in harmony and unity,” said artistic director Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo . Here are some highlights: The festival begins with two concerts by the celebrated orchestra, founded in 1972 by influential conductors Seiji Ozawa and Naozumi Yamamoto. With American star tenor Jonathan Tetelman as a special guest, the opening show’s programme will feature arias from Puccini’s operas Turandot and Manon Lescaut . The following night will showcase Japanese pianist Kyohei Sorita performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1 before the orchestra plays Japanese composer Yasushi Akutagawa’s 1953 masterpiece Triptyque for Strings Orchestra . From 8pm; Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Drumming meets theatre in this performance by the seasoned Japanese troupe. Since their debut international show in 1981, the ensemble has given about 7,000 performances in more than 50 countries. Meaning "heartbeat" in Japanese, Kodo’s Abu Dhabi show will be an intricate and dazzling display of percussion prowess. The largest drum used in the show weighs up to three tonnes and is made from the trunk of a single tree. From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi The youngest-ever gold medal winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will make his UAE debut at the festival. Achieving the feat in 2022 at the age of 18, South Korea’s Yunchan Lim’s performance is expected to affirm the industry buzz surrounding him, with his interpretation of Bach’s epic Goldberg Variations . From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi Renowned as a musical prodigy, Japanese percussionist Kuniko Kato – who plays various instruments, from the xylophone to the marimba – will present a programme of traditional and contemporary works. These include interpretations of works by modern composers Iannis Xenakis, Steve Reich, Arvo Part and Unsuk Chin. From 7.30pm; The Blue Hall, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi The French siblings are at ease playing with major international orchestras and baroque music ensembles. Favourites of influential US composer Philip Glass , they will present a cinematic programme featuring works by Glass and others, inspired by director and poet Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film version of Beauty and the Beast . From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi The group has woven itself into South Korea’s cultural fabric since its founding in 1993. The first performance programme features works by Brahms and Tchaikovsky, in addition to an excerpt from the ballet Princess Bari by South Korean composer Geon-Yong Lee. The follow-up concert will feature US soprano Jessica Pratt and Mexican tenor Javier Camarena, performing aria duets from composers Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi. From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi Experience the excellence of some of the world’s most talented dancers, representing esteemed companies such as the UK’s Royal Ballet and Germany’s Bayerisches Staatsballett, in a repertoire of popular classic and contemporary pieces. From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi Palestinian violinist Yamen Saadi returns to the festival for a concert alongside Spanish violinist Sara Ferrandez and star cellists Kian Soltani from Austria and Pablo Ferrandez from Spain. Expect a varied repertoire of pieces to be performed with precise technique and charm. From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi The US trumpeter is known for co-founding the Westerlies, an important New York brass band that performs a mix of jazz, modern classical music and folk. A 2020 winner of the Lincoln Centre’s Emerging Artist Award, Mulherkar will showcase his skill as a composer and arranger. From 7.30pm; The Black Box, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi Tickets for shows are priced separately and will be available soon

Abu Dhabi Festival 2025 guide: Orchestras, ballet, jazz and Japan as country of honour

The annual event returns with a programme including performances at Emirates Palace and NYUAD Arts Centre