Dubai Opera marks 10 years with a landmark 2026–27 Season

The Downtown Dubai cultural landmark marks its 10th anniversary with an ambitious 2026–27 season spanning opera, ballet, Arabic music, comedy and major international performances.

For a decade, Dubai Opera has been at the centre of the city’s cultural life, bringing audiences opera, ballet, concerts, theatre and comedy. Now, as the Downtown Dubai landmark celebrates its 10th anniversary, it is marking the occasion with a 2026–27 season that brings together major international names and a wide range of artistic traditions.

The anniversary season opens on September 12 with a special gala featuring internationally acclaimed Egyptian soprano Fatma Said, Maestro Ahmed Farag, the UAE National Orchestra and the Festival Chorus.

The programme then moves across genres and cultures, with Trevor Noah and the Bolshoi Theatre among the headline names, alongside Arabic music, Russian opera, contemporary dance and tributes to artists ranging from Queen to Amy Winehouse.

A 10th anniversary gala and a UAE-first premiere

The Dubai Opera 10th Anniversary Gala will be the centrepiece of the celebrations, bringing together opera and Arab musical classics in a special evening marking a decade of performances at the Downtown Dubai venue.

The gala will feature the world premiere of a new orchestral work by Egyptian composer Mohamed Medhat, commissioned for the UAE National Orchestra. The programme will also include Celebrating Movement, featuring Jan Martens’ acclaimed Period Piece, performed by Kaine Ward with lighting by Rudy Parra of Lyon Opera Ballet.

“This year, we’re opening the season with the UAE National Orchestra and we’ve commissioned a brand-new piece that brings together symphonic music with Arabic instruments,” said Lara Ewing, Head of Dubai Opera,. “It’s just a really beautiful piece and we’re super excited to have the world premiere for it.”

Ewing describes the gala as a reflection of the season itself: “We have a blend of different cultures. It reflects our season as a whole.”

From Mozart ballet to Queen and Amy Winehouse

The anniversary programme continues on September 17–19 with the Ukrainian National Ballet’s adaptation of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Created as a ballet, the production transforms the composer’s beloved comedy into a theatrical spectacle of elaborate costumes, movement and visual flair, arriving as the world marks 270 years since Mozart’s birth.

October brings a mix of music, comedy and theatre. On October 5, God Save The Queen makes its Dubai debut, with the acclaimed tribute band revisiting hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You and Somebody to Love after more than 1,000 performances worldwide.

Lebanese singer and actress Marilyne Naaman follows on October 6, while The Amy Winehouse Band takes the stage on October 8.

Comedy will take over the city from October 9–18 with the seventh edition of the Dubai Comedy Festival, bringing together international, regional and local comedians across multiple languages and venues.

Also on October 9–10, Mohandis Al Thouq Al Aam follows a young couple through the funny and unpredictable realities of expecting their first child.

Music and theatre round out the month with Gipsy Kings Symphonic, led by André Reyes, on October 22, followed by TITIZÉ – A Venetian Dream from Compagnia Finzi Pasca on October 29–31. The production combines acrobatics, physical theatre, clowning and live music to evoke the dreamlike world of Venice.

Trevor Noah and the Bolshoi Theatre

November continues the international line-up with British singer, pianist and composer Benjamin Clementine on November 1, followed by Ministry of Sound Classical on November 7, an orchestral interpretation of club classics conducted by David Mahoney.

Trevor Noah returns to Dubai Opera on November 25–26 following his sold-out UAE arena performances. The Emmy Award-winning comedian and former host of The Daily Show will bring his trademark storytelling and stand-up to the more intimate setting of the opera house.

On November 27, Lebanese singer Hiba Tawaji and acclaimed trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf will join forces for À La Française, a one-night concert inspired by French musical heritage.

December will deliver one of the season’s biggest cultural highlights: the Bolshoi Theatre’s first official UAE tour, co-presented by Dubai Opera and Art Seasons.

The legendary company will present Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Tsar’s Bride on December 2, followed by a symphonic concert by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra on December 3.

From December 4–6, audiences will see the company’s celebrated The Nutcracker, choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich and performed with principal dancers and the orchestra.

The December programme also features pianist and composer Guy Manoukian, returning for his 10th Dubai Opera performance on December 11 after nine sold-out shows at the venue; world-renowned pianist Denis Matsuev on December 16; and Gulf theatre production Abracadabra on December 18–19.

As Dubai Opera enters its second decade, the anniversary season reflects the venue’s evolving role in the city: a stage where international culture, local creativity and different artistic traditions meet and where Dubai’s appetite for the world continues to grow.