DXB Winter Festival runs beside Dubai Festival City Mall from 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.
The festival covers 20,000 square metres, with more than 150 vendors, a funfair, Santa’s grotto and live entertainment.
Opening hours are 4pm to midnight on weekdays and 2pm to midnight on weekends.
Festive markets, a funfair and Santa’s grotto will take over the waterfront.
Dubai dwellers, get ready to sprinkle a little extra magic into your holiday season because Dubai’s waterfront is getting a festive makeover. DXB Winter Festival will arrive beside Dubai Festival City Mall on Tuesday, 1 December 2026 and continue until Sunday, 10 January 2027. With a funfair, market stalls and Santa’s grotto on the agenda, the new event offers plenty of reasons to head outdoors this winter.
Spanning 20,000 square metres, the festival will host more than 150 vendors, with food and shopping anchoring the festive experience. Visitors can browse stalls from independent artisans, pick up gifts and settle into open-air cafés between activities. Plans also reveal an outdoor licensed area.
The concept takes its cues from traditional European Christmas markets, with a large Christmas tree providing a focal point for the waterfront celebrations. Elsewhere, families will have plenty to explore, with Santa’s grotto giving younger visitors a chance to meet the man in red. The funfair will add rides to the mix, while creative workshops will encourage children to get involved.
The main stage at DXB Winter Festival 2026 will host live performances, supported by festive parades and daily entertainment across the site. The programme will change throughout the festival, with celebrations marking UAE National Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Orthodox Christmas. For anyone making plans for 31 December, the bay will also provide a setting to welcome 2027.
To celebrate the launch, 10,000 tickets will be offered with a 25 per cent early bird discount. Register through the festival’s website to receive a discount code to use when tickets go on sale.
The season to be jolly is fast approaching…
Where: DXB Winter Festival, Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall
When: 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, from 4pm to midnight
When: dxbwinterfestival.ae