Cultural Foundation, a cultural centre under the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has unveiled its dynamic line-up of performances, exhibitions, community programmes and literary initiatives running from September to December 2026.
The upcoming season’s calendar spans international dance, music, a youth film festivals, landmark art exhibitions and the launch of the literary programme, El Marmas, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a vibrant, multi-faceted cultural centre. Cultural Foundation’s community programmes, art studios and children’s library will also continue offering interactive learning and creative development for audiences of all ages.
PERFORMANCES
The performing arts season kicks off in September with a celebration of global dance and music. On 17 September, in partnership with the Chinese Cultural Centre, Cultural Foundation presents Mid-Autumn Festival: A Moonment to Remember, featuring world-renowned China National Peking Opera Company. Bringing over 80 years of heritage, the company will showcase a captivating blend of masterful singing, expressive movement and elaborate costumes.
From 19 to 20 September, in partnership with Art For All, audiences can experience Dance of the Emerald Isle, an Irish dance production created by former Lord of the Dance star Chris Hannon. Blending traditional roots with contemporary theatricality, the show brings Ireland’s mythical stories and rich heritage to life through choreography.
Dance highlights continue on 26 September with Flamenco Romeo & Juliet by Barcelona Flamenco Ballet, presentedin partnership with Art For All. A bold reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy, the production fuses flamenco, contemporary dance and jazz.
On 4 October, the popular Jalsat Nights at Cultural Foundation returns, featuring acclaimed Emirati artist Muaded Al Kaabi, recipient of the Najm Al Khaleej 2006 title and member of the UAE National Orchestra, presenting a harmonious blend of traditional Emirati sound and modern arrangements.
On 17 October, Anime Memories, presented in partnership with Art For All, takes the stage, bridging Japan and the Middle East through a live concert celebrating iconic anime soundtracks performed by an ensemble of musicians and vocalists.
Younger audiences and families are at the heart of the upcoming schedule. From 21 to 24 October, Cultural Foundation, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region, hosts SCHLiNGEL ABU DHABI, an international film festival dedicated to children and youth cinema.
On 24 October, Tenors of the XXI Century: World Hits About Love, presented in partnership with Art For All, offers an evening of beloved opera arias, passionate tangos and international classics including My Way and Can’t Help Falling in Love.
Family theatre continues from 6 to 7 November with Jonathan Rockefeller’s critically acclaimed The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (in partnership with Art For All), featuring a magical cast of over 75 puppets bringing Eric Carle’s classic stories to life. On 15 November, S4K’s Macbeth presents a thrilling, child-friendly musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous play.
On 20 and 21 November, Cultural Foundation presents Thikra: Night of Remembering by Akram Khan Company, created in collaboration with visual artist Manal AlDowayan. Blending Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance, this all-female ensemble performance features an original score by Aditya Prakash and dramaturgy by Blue Pieta.
Closing out the performance season on 12 December, international music legend Enrico Macias will perform an intimate, historic concert celebrating six decades of timeless hits filled with nostalgia, love and human connection (in partnership with Art For All).
EXHIBITIONS
From 15 October 2026 to 15 January 2027, Cultural Foundation will host Zuleya 2026 – Year of the Family Exhibition Series and Auction, an initiative by the Fatima Bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI), in partnership with Mubadala and Dolphin Energy. Exploring the theme of family unity in the Year of Family, the exhibition invites artists to interpret ideas of family, connection and personal experience through their artistic practices, featuring site-specific works, artist talks and workshops. The programme will culminate in a charity auction of selected works, with proceeds supporting FBMI’s ongoing health and education initiatives for children in disadvantaged communities.
The season’s visual arts programme is anchored by a landmark flagship solo exhibition by renowned Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou, running from 12 November 2026 to 15 March 2027. Known for her exploration of materiality and its perception, Al Mazrou’s sculptures examine ideas of gravity and spatial tension. Bringing together past works alongside new commissions, the exhibition transforms the Foundation’s atrium into an immersive sculptural landscape that invites audiences to encounter shifting relationships between the works and the surrounding space.
Additionally, visitors can view the final weeks of Shezad Dawood’s landmark mid-career retrospective, Shezad Dawood: Skin of Dreams, which remains on view until 20 September 2026.
PUBLIC & LITERARY PROGRAMMES
The upcoming season at Cultural Foundation is complemented by an extensive programme of talks, tours, workshops and community initiatives designed to inspire creativity and engage audiences of all ages.
As part of these offerings, the season marks the launch of El Marmas, a recurring literary platform rooted in founding legacy and designed to cultivate reading, authorship and public dialogue. Running from September through December, the programme comprises several key strands:
- Memory Endurance:A calm, communal monthly reading series inviting participants to disconnect from digital noise.
- Read the World:A monthly series of engaging discussions on regional and international literary movements.
- Awal Badi Book Club:A specialised monthly children’s reading circle hosted at the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library.
- Writers Detox:An informal gathering for writers of all experience levels to share work and ideas.
- Poetry Night:A live celebration of poetic arts held in honour of National Day celebrations.
From 13 to 18 September, Cultural Foundation will participate in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair with a series of talks on film and literature, alongside programming at the Fair’s children’s pavilion led by the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library. Later in the year, this will be followed by the Awal Badi Forum from 14 to 15 December, a two-day storytelling forum exploring culture, memory and heritage through panel talks, performances and public activations.
Professional artists will also be invited to apply for the next cycle of the Art Residency Programme, with the official Open Call launching in December.
ABU DHABI CHILDREN’S LIBRARY
Abu Dhabi Children’s Library, nestled within Cultural Foundation, serves as a knowledge and learning space for children up to 14 years old, offering a rich selection of fiction, non-fiction, novels, autobiographies and reference materials in multiple languages for young readers. The library inspires a lifelong love of learning, fostering literacy, creativity, critical thinking, and community.
Combining daily and special programmes, the library features various facilities and programmes designed to inspire young minds. Children can engage in a variety of activities focused on early childhood development, reading, writing, arts, crafts, and exploration. The library’s interactive learning and play spaces are designed with immersive, age-specific social environments. The library will also host its annual Winter Camp from December through January.
Continuing with special arts programmes for children, the Children’s Art Centre enhances educational experiences for children through art classes and workshops.
ART STUDIOS: AL MARSAM AL HOR AND BAIT AL KHATT
Cultural Foundation continues to offer a wide variety of educational courses, workshops, winter camps and special programmes for adults and children at its art studios, Al Marsam Al Hor and Bait Al Khatt. These spaces provide an opportunity for community members to enhance their artistic skills in a range of disciplines such as drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, fashion design, sewing and Arabic calligraphy through monthly packages and one-off workshops.
Cultural Foundation offers free admission, with tickets for specific activities. Operating hours are Saturday – Thursday, 9AM – 8PM, and Fridays, 2PM – 8PM. For more information about shows, exhibitions, art activities and tickets, please visit culturalfoundation.ae.
