Asan Tata— November 11, 2026Dubai Shopping Festival is back for its 32nd edition. The festival opens on Friday, 4 December 2026, and runs for 45 days until Sunday, 17 January 2027. It brings concerts, nightly drone and light shows, shopping offers, dining and family activities to venues across Dubai, from JBR and Bluewaters Island to the mountains of Hatta.
The dates were confirmed by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. DFRE is part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. The opening weekend sets the tone: regional singer Rashid Al Majed performs at Coca-Cola Arena on 4 December, and international DJ Steve Aoki takes the same stage on 5 December.
Quick Answer
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2026 runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027. It is the 32nd edition of the festival and lasts 45 days. The opening concerts are Rashid Al Majed on 4 December and Steve Aoki on 5 December, both at Coca-Cola Arena. From 5 December, a nightly light show runs from 7.30pm to 10.30pm on the waterfront between The Beach at JBR and Bluewaters Island, with two drone shows every night. A candlelight concert in Hatta on 2 December marks Eid Al Etihad, two days before the festival opens. The full programme of offers and events will be announced closer to the opening, so check the official website at mydsf.ae for the latest updates.
Dubai Shopping Festival Dates and Duration
The festival starts on Friday, 4 December 2026, and ends on Sunday, 17 January 2027. That is 45 days of events. The opening day falls on a Friday, the start of the UAE weekend, so the first concerts and events are easy to reach for residents and visitors alike.
One date to note before the festival even starts is 2 December 2026. That is Eid Al Etihad, the UAE National Day, and Hatta hosts a special candlelight concert that evening as part of the festival season. It is a separate event from the 4 December opening, and it takes place at DSF x Hatta Wadi Hub.
Visitors should plan around the fact that the full event calendar has not been released yet. DFRE announced the headline dates, the opening concerts and the light show on 10 November. More concerts, markets and offers will be added in the weeks before the opening. The official website, mydsf.ae, and the @DubaiFestivals accounts on Instagram and TikTok are the places where new announcements appear first.
Opening Weekend Concerts at Coca-Cola Arena
The opening weekend brings two very different headline acts to Coca-Cola Arena in City Walk. On Friday, 4 December, regional singer Rashid Al Majed opens the festival with a live performance of his best-known songs. On Saturday, 5 December, international DJ Steve Aoki performs at the same venue with his high-energy electronic show.
Rashid Al Majed is one of the most popular singers in the Arab world, and his concert is the traditional-style opening the festival is known for. Tickets for his performance will be sold through Platinumlist. The on-sale date had not been announced when the festival dates were confirmed on 10 November, so fans should watch Platinumlist and the official DSF channels for the sale to open.
Steve Aoki is a global electronic music star known for large-stage productions and crowd interaction. Further details about his 5 December performance, including ticket sales, will be announced through the Coca-Cola Arena website and the official festival channels. No ticket prices for either concert had been published at the time of the announcement.
If you plan to attend either concert, buy tickets only from the official sellers named in the announcement: Platinumlist for Rashid Al Majed, and the Coca-Cola Arena website for Steve Aoki. Do not buy from resellers or social media sellers, because fake tickets are a common problem at big Dubai events.
DSF Light Show at JBR and Bluewaters
The DSF Light Show is the festival’s big free nightly attraction. It runs from Saturday, 5 December 2026, to Sunday, 17 January 2027, every night from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. The show takes place on the waterfront between The Beach at JBR and Bluewaters Island.
Each night’s programme has several parts. There are two drone shows set to music, architectural laser mapping across selected JBR towers, and a laser show synchronised with the music. The show also uses animation, dynamic lighting and sound effects to turn the waterfront into a large open-air stage.
The two drone shows are the highlight for most visitors. Drones fly in formation above the water, lit up in changing colours and shapes, while music plays from the waterfront. The laser mapping projects moving images onto the towers at JBR, so the buildings themselves become part of the show.
The show is free to watch from the public areas at The Beach, JBR, and from Bluewaters Island. Arrive before 7.30pm to get a good viewing spot, because the waterfront gets busy on weekend nights.
Hatta Candlelight Concert for Eid Al Etihad
Before the festival opens, Hatta hosts a special musical event on Wednesday, 2 December 2026. It is a candlelight concert at DSF x Hatta Wadi Hub, with a khaleeji-themed performance set against the Hatta mountains. The concert marks Eid Al Etihad, the UAE National Day, which falls on the same day.
No ticket details for the Hatta concert had been announced when the festival dates were confirmed. Visitors who want to attend should check mydsf.ae and the @DubaiFestivals accounts for updates. Because Hatta is a popular weekend destination in winter, plan transport and parking in advance if you go.
Shopping and Deals During the Festival
Shopping is still the heart of the Dubai Shopping Festival. Malls and shops across Dubai run promotions during the 45 days, with discounts on fashion, electronics, beauty, homeware and more. The full list of offers for the 2026-27 edition had not been released when the dates were announced on 10 November, and it will be published closer to the opening.
In past editions, the biggest sales have run at the large malls such as Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Festival City Mall, as well as at markets and souks such as the Deira Gold Souk and the traditional markets at Al Seef. The exact discounts vary by shop and by week, so the best approach is to check the official website and the malls’ own channels as the festival gets closer.
Gold shoppers should note that the festival season often brings special making-charge offers at jewellery shops in the Gold Souk. The gold price itself is set by the market and changes daily, so a festival offer usually applies to the making charge, not to the price of the gold. Check the day’s rate before you buy, and ask the shop to break down the price into gold value, making charge and VAT.
Raffles and prize draws have been a regular part of the festival in past years, with cars and cash prizes among the headline draws. No raffle details for the 2026-27 edition had been announced at the time of writing. If a draw is announced, the official website will carry the terms. Be careful of fake raffle messages on WhatsApp and social media that ask for personal details or payments. Real DSF draws never ask for money to claim a prize.
Dining and Family Experiences
Food is a big part of the festival. Restaurants and cafes across Dubai run special menus and dining offers during the 45 days, and outdoor food markets appear at festival venues. The full dining programme for this edition had not been announced yet, but visitors can expect a mix of Emirati food, international cuisines and street food at the main venues.
Families are a central audience for the festival. Past editions have included outdoor markets, street performances, children’s activities and cultural shows. Global Village, which runs its own winter season, is also a popular stop during the festival period, with pavilions from many countries, food stalls and live shows. The festival’s own family programme for this edition will be announced in the coming weeks.
How to Plan Your Visit
Start with the official website, mydsf.ae. It is the only source that carries the confirmed programme, ticket links and new announcements. The @DubaiFestivals accounts on Instagram and TikTok post updates as events are added. Check both before you travel, because concert dates, ticket sales and event times can change.
For the opening concerts, watch Platinumlist for Rashid Al Majed tickets and the Coca-Cola Arena website for Steve Aoki details. Buy only from these official sellers. If a concert sells out, do not trust unofficial resellers: fake tickets and inflated prices are common, and a fake ticket will not get you into the venue.
For the light show, no ticket is needed. Plan to arrive at The Beach, JBR, or Bluewaters Island before 7.30pm. The show runs until 10.30pm every night from 5 December to 17 January. Weekend nights are the busiest, so a weekday visit gives a calmer view. The nearest metro stations are DMCC and Sobha Realty on the Red Line, with the tram to JBR.
For Hatta, plan a full day. The drive from central Dubai takes about 90 minutes each way. The candlelight concert is on 2 December, a Wednesday and a public holiday for Eid Al Etihad, so the roads to Hatta are likely to be busy. Check the event details on mydsf.ae before you set off, and allow extra time for parking.
December and January are the coolest months in Dubai, with daytime temperatures usually in the mid-20s Celsius and cooler evenings, so bring a light jacket for outdoor events. Visitors from outside the UAE should check their visa requirements before travel. The festival itself does not issue visas.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Dubai Shopping Festival 2026 start and end?
The festival starts on Friday, 4 December 2026, and ends on Sunday, 17 January 2027. It is the 32nd edition and runs for 45 days.
Who is performing at the opening of the Dubai Shopping Festival?
Rashid Al Majed performs at Coca-Cola Arena on 4 December 2026, and Steve Aoki performs at the same venue on 5 December 2026. Tickets for Rashid Al Majed are sold through Platinumlist. Details for the Steve Aoki concert will be announced on the Coca-Cola Arena website.
Is the DSF Light Show free?
Yes. The nightly light show at the waterfront between The Beach at JBR and Bluewaters Island is free to watch from the public areas. It runs every night from 5 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, from 7.30pm to 10.30pm, with two drone shows, laser mapping and a music-synchronised laser show each night.
What is the Hatta event on 2 December?
A candlelight concert with a khaleeji-themed performance takes place at DSF x Hatta Wadi Hub on Wednesday, 2 December 2026, to mark Eid Al Etihad. Ticket details had not been announced when the festival dates were confirmed, so check mydsf.ae for updates.
Where can I find the full Dubai Shopping Festival programme?
The official website is mydsf.ae. New concerts, offers, markets and events are announced there first, and on the @DubaiFestivals accounts on Instagram and TikTok. The full programme had not been released when the dates were announced on 10 November 2026.
Do I need a ticket for the shopping festival itself?
No. Entry to the festival and to the light show is free. You only need tickets for specific paid events, such as the opening concerts at Coca-Cola Arena. Shopping offers apply in the shops themselves, and no festival ticket is needed to use them.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Event dates, times, ticket sales and offers can change. Always check the official Dubai Shopping Festival website at mydsf.ae and the official venue websites before you travel or buy tickets. This website is not affiliated with the Dubai Shopping Festival, DFRE or the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
Last Updated: 11 November 2026
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