The 16-day festival includes fun-filled, family-friendly events.
It’s time to celebrate Emirati culture. Al Hosn Festival in Abu Dhabi runs from 17 January to 1 February 2026. Taking place at the historical Al Hosn site, it showcases an exciting range of family-friendly events. The festival includes zones and activities such as art installations, concerts, creative workshops, film screenings, pop-up restaurants and traditional souqs.
Al Hosn Festival gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in traditional Emirati culture. The Insta-opportunities range from dressing up in Emirati clothing to participating in an Emirati wedding. The wedding experience showcases customs such as a bridal shower and a wedding feast.
The Heritage Zone offers a fascinating journey into the region’s camels and the customs associated with them. This year, visitors can discover the social practices of welcoming a new baby in Emirati culture. They can also explore a bustling souk filled with the fashion and adornments cherished by Emirati women.
Al Freej turns back the clock by recreating an old village and souk. The activities include burga making, fishnet making, palm weaving, pottery making and textile dyeing. Other workshops cover dhow-making and thobe-making, as well as jalabeya design.
In the Craft Zone, try your hand at henna and immerse yourself in the design of an Emirati home through antique sellers, designers, and creative studios from across the UAE. The Community Zone captures the spirit of today’s Abu Dhabi with captivating live performances and boutique retailers.
After all that culture, you’ll work up an appetite. For the first time, local chefs will join the festival to cook up culinary delights in the Kitchen Zone. Here, guests can experience Emirati hospitality and watch chefs in action as they cook in traditional pots. Sample local dishes including Harees, Tanoor, Thareed, and dry and salted fish with rice.
Qasr Al Hosn is an 18th-century former fort. Today, it is home to a museum and cultural centre that brings Emirati history to life. The site is also home to Erth, the first Emirati MICHELIN-starred restaurant.
Al Hosn Festival is a living expression of Abu Dhabi’s culture. It invites you to make unexpected discoveries, build connections with the past, and become part of the ever-evolving story of the capital. Tickets are available now via Platinumlist from AED 35. Al Hosn Festival runs daily from 4pm to 11pm, from 17 January to 1 February 2026.
Go on, step back in time.
GO: Visit https://abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net for more information.