Shah Rukh Khan’s UNIFYD Abu Dhabi festival adds Jonita, Shalmali Kholgade and more to line-up

The Liwa International Festival 2027 will take place from December 11, 2026, to January 2, 2027 in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert. This annual celebration of Emirati heritage, culture, sports and entertainment will return with a refreshed line-up of attractions and events.

Liwa Village, the festival’s main attraction, will host a new international entertainment show called Liwa Village, featuring rides, attractions and immersive entertainment experiences. New additions to the festival this year include the Circus Swing, Tagada and Space Tower, as well as interactive challenges such as Play Strike, Ninja Challenge, Pixel Run, Desert Mission and Trike Drift.

A highlight of the festival is the return of Nitro Circus, an internationally acclaimed event featuring more than 15 athletes. Nitro Circus will deliver three high-energy performances packed with spectacular freestyle motocross and BMX stunts, synchronised routines and daring jumps through flaming obstacles.

The festival will also host a series of motorsports events and traditional desert sports, including freestyle car shows, drag racing, falcon racing, sand-dune freestyle shows, the Liwa UTV track, pigeon racing, the Liwa Burnout Challenge and Liwa Drift. The festival will conclude with the Tal Moreeb Car Championship on December 30 to January 2, 2027.

Visitors can participate in various sporting and fitness activities, including the Liwa Board Climbing Challenge, a cycling race, the Liwa Festival Community Race, a padel tournament and a fitness tour. A traditional Emirati village inspired by the Emirati fareej will showcase heritage through performances, interactive activities and workshops. Visitors can learn about Emirati etiquette, experience an Emirati Majlis, watch traditional coffee preparation and engage in traditional games such as teela, karabi and tug-of-war.