The chart-topping pair will open the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert series with separate sets on 3 December.
Abu Dhabi’s biggest race week is warming up early. Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson have been confirmed as the opening night headliners for this year’s Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 after-race concert series, bringing two very different performances to Etihad Park on Yas Island. The artists will perform separate sets on Thursday, 3 December, launching a four-night programme that runs alongside the race weekend at Yas Marina Circuit until Sunday, 6 December. Access to the concerts is reserved for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders, and organisers have confirmed that further names will be added to the line-up in the coming months.
Capaldi’s return to the capital arrives with plenty of momentum. The Scottish singer-songwriter first broke through with bruised-heart balladry that felt disarmingly direct, then turned that emotional honesty into mainstream dominance with “Someone You Loved”, a chart-topper that reached Number 1 in the UK and became a global calling card. Live, he pairs those big choruses with dry humour and a knack for turning a crowd into a choir. A recent Abu Dhabi appearance at Saadiyat Nights showcased that balance with top tracks such as “Before You Go”, “Hold Me While You Wait” and “Forget Me” sitting front and centre in a set designed for mass sing-alongs.
Also on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts bill, Zara Larsson brings the high-gloss pop rush. The Swedish star first stepped into the spotlight as a child, later building international momentum with the sparkling “Lush Life” and the punchy, club-leaning “Never Forget You”. She has since stacked a catalogue made for festival-scale moments, including Clean Bandit collaboration “Symphony”, which became her first UK Number 1. For Abu Dhabi, expect crisp choreography, sky-high hooks, and a setlist that leans into her most recognisable hits.
With last year’s race drawing record crowds across four days, the stage is set for another blockbuster week on Yas Island.
Tickets for the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 are available now.
Readers, start your engines.
GO: Visit www.abudhabigp.com for more information.