Liwa Festival 2027 Set for December‑January Run with Nitro Circus, Heritage Village and Motorsport Events
Overview
Liwa International Festival 2027 will take place from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 in the Liwa Desert of Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region. The event is organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi together with the Liwa Sports Club, Al Dhafra Municipality, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Media Network, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and Al Dhafra Hospitals – SEHA. It is held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and centres around Tal Moreeb, the UAE’s tallest sand dune which rises above 300 metres.
Since its inaugural edition in 2001, the festival has grown into an annual showcase of Emirati heritage, culture, sport and entertainment, drawing families and visitors from across the Emirates and beyond. The previous edition attracted more than 700,000 guests over 23 days and received the Best Festival award at the Middle East Event Awards 2026.
Entertainment and Liwa Village
At the heart of the festivities lies Liwa Village, which returns with a refreshed programme of rides, attractions and immersive experiences, more than half of which are newly introduced or redesigned. New offerings include the Circus Swing, Tagada, Space Tower, Play Strike, Ninja Challenge, Pixel Run, Desert Mission and Trike Drift, together with archery contests and climbing adventures. A brand‑new bungee‑jumping activity will also be featured. Familiar favourites making a comeback are Liwa Sun, bumper cars, Slingshot, Booster, classic cars, Go Water Kart, paintball battles, the Haunted House, a maze adventure and a four‑wheel‑drive track.
For the first time the festival will host the internationally acclaimed Nitro Circus on 19 and 20 December 2026. The show will involve more than 15 athletes delivering three performances packed with freestyle motocross and BMX stunts, synchronised routines and daring jumps through flaming obstacles, heightened by special effects.
Motorsport and Traditional Sports
The Liwa Sports Club will oversee a series of motorsport events and traditional desert competitions throughout the period from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. Freestyle car shows are scheduled for 11‑12 December and 21‑22 December; motorcycle drag racing takes place on 13 December; falcon racing runs from 14 to 16 December; sand‑dune freestyle displays occur on 18‑19 December and 27‑28 December; the Liwa UTV track opens on 20 December; pigeon racing is set for 22‑23 December; the Liwa Burnout Challenge happens on 24 December; and Liwa Drift is programmed for 25‑26 December. The motorsport climax is the Tal Moreeb Car Championship, running from 30 December to 2 January, bringing the festival’s racing programme to a close as the new year begins.
In addition to the motor‑sport lineup, visitors can join a range of sporting and fitness activities: the Liwa Board Climbing Challenge on 19 December, a cycling race on 21 December, the Liwa Festival Community Race on 23 December, a padel tournament on 24‑25 December and a fitness tour on 29 December.
Heritage, Culture and Visitor Services
The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority will present a traditional village inspired by the Emirati fareej, or neighbourhood, to highlight local customs and everyday life of past generations through demonstrations, observation and hands‑on participation. The House of Poetry and Poets will host sessions focusing on Nabati verse and its role in expressing community values, experiences and traditions.
The Falconry Tent will allow guests to witness live falcon displays and learn about breeding, training and care, while also showcasing traditional falconry equipment. Children and young people can take part in workshops to craft miniature falcon hoods. The heritage programme further includes an area for traditional Emirati games such as teela (marble games), karabi and tug‑of‑war, alongside camel rides and simulated palm‑tree climbing. Workshops on palm‑frond weaving and textile‑making will introduce skills handed down through generations.
Visitors will be introduced to Al Sanaa, the traditional Emirati etiquette and code of conduct, through an Emirati Majlis experience. Practical demonstrations will explain the customs of entering a majlis, exchanging greetings, seating arrangements, welcoming guests and extending hospitality, underlining the majlis’s lasting role in Emirati social life and the transmission of cultural values. Live demonstrations of Emirati coffee preparation and serving will accompany the experience, exhibiting the customary utensils, etiquette and hospitality linked to this cultural symbol.
Heritage activities extend beyond the main festival grounds to sites such as Liwa Board, Dhafeer Fort, Al Meel Fort and Al Yabanah Fort, where shopping and dining options will also be available. Khannour Fort will host a heritage experience centred on traditional Emirati crafts, while Mzeire’a Fort will offer a cultural programme inspired by Liwa’s history and heritage.
The festival will launch its first official Liwa International Festival 2027 mobile application. The app will enable users to browse the event schedule, locate services and venues, receive the latest updates, and reserve camping pitches and motorhome parking spaces. It will also provide information on commercial participation opportunities at the festival.
