Under the honorary patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Assistant to the Chairman of Emirates Red Crescent for Women’s Affairs, the 22nd Abu Dhabi Festival will take place on 7 February 2025 under the theme Abu Dhabi – A World of Harmony.
Organised by Abu Dhabi Music & Art Foundation (ADMAF), the 22nd Abu Dhabi Festival, which will feature Japan as guest country of honour, will showcase a rich array of global artistry in ballet, opera, orchestra and music, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s leadership as a hub for cultural and civilisational diversity.
The 22nd Abu Dhabi Festival, will combine artistic creativity and cultural diversity, enhancing its status as a leading platform for building cultural bridges between nations and highlighting the UAE’s thriving cultural landscape.
The festival's programme abroad will mark several historic milestones this year including the world premiere of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande with the Opera National de Paris, directed by Canadian-Lebanese Wajdi Mouawad, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the classical opera and the Arab world. Additionally, the festival will showcase historic visual arts exhibitions in partnership with the renowned Seoul Museum of Art in Korea, along with its world tour across China, Japan, and Singapore, making it one of the most ambitious joint cultural initiatives ever seen in the region.