Liwa International Festival 2025-2026: An Unforgettable Celebration of Adventure, Culture, and Motorsport
The Liwa International Festival will once again transform the golden dunes of the Al Dhafra Region into a vibrant celebration from 12 December 2025 to 3 January 2026. Over 23 days, this event—dubbed the Desert’s Grand Stage—promises a unique blend of culture, adventure, motorsports, music, and family fun against the stunning backdrop of Tal Moreeb, the UAE’s tallest dune.
Since its inception in 2001, the Liwa International Festival has evolved into Abu Dhabi’s premier winter experience, attracting visitors from across the region and beyond. The festival is renowned for its ability to bring together a tapestry of heritage, sport, and the vibrant energy of community gatherings beneath the desert sky.
The festival will open with a breathtaking display by the Forsan Al Emarat show, the official aerobatics team of the United Arab Emirates Air Force, captivating fireworks, light shows, and mesmerizing drone displays, launching the celebration with a spectacle.
Motorsports enthusiasts will find themselves at the heart of the action, as Liwa reasserts itself as the regional hub for thrilling competitions. The packed schedule includes:
- Freestyle Drift: 12–13 and 22–23 December
- Spartan Race Liwa: 13 December
- Bike Drag Racing: 14 December
- Falconry: 15–17 December, highlighting both skill and tradition
- Car Stunt Championship: 19–20 December (returning 28–29 December)
- Extreme Mudfest: 19–20 December—an exhilarating new addition
- Liwa Running Challenge: 20 December
- Liwa Cycling Race, Liwa UTV: 21 December
- Pigeon Hunt Competition: 23–24 December
- Liwa Burnout Championship: 25 December
- Liwa Drift, Monster Jam, Tal Moreeb Running Challenge: 26 December
- Liwa Padel Championship: 26–28 December
- Liwa Cycling Challenge: 27 December
- Sand Wrestling Championship: 26–27 December
- Electronic Freestyle Championship: 30 December
- Tal Moreeb Car Championship: 31 December 2025 – 3 January 2026
Weekly competitions and activities, including Football and Padel, will ensure ongoing excitement through the festival, while Boxing events run from 15–21 December. In addition, the Jetour Travel Conference will convene on 19–21 December.
Spectators can look forward to daily Dune Projection Shows, Drone Shows, and Hot Air Balloons every weekend, setting the desert sky aglow in vibrant color and movement. Water Karting and Mini Tank Paintball adventures will be available every day, perfect for guests seeking hands-on thrills. Fireworks will illuminate the night at the festival’s opening, on weekends, during New Year’s Eve, and for the grand finale.
At the heart of the celebration is Liwa Village, a bustling center featuring attractions for ‘kids of all ages’: carnival rides, skill games, pony rides, and separate ziplines for children and adults. Highlights include the Classic Car Museum, Auto Zone, Horror Escape Room, Smash Room, and for younger visitors, the Pony Grove and petting zoo.
A stroll through the Souk Zone and Pop-Up Heritage Shops reveals handmade crafts and local treasures, while the Performance Stage is alive with live music, cultural acts, and daily entertainment. Food lovers can indulge in both Emirati favourites and global cuisine across the diverse F&B and retail outlets.
New Year’s Eve at the festival is set to dazzle, as the Tal Moreeb Car Championship starts its epic race and the night comes alive with a special concert and an unforgettable fireworks show, welcoming 2026 under the stars of the Al Dhafra Region.
The Liwa International Festival is a celebration of the UAE’s proud heritage and traditions. Attractions such as falconry, handicrafts, Souk Liwa, and the ever-popular pigeon shooting championship embody the enduring spirit of the nation, connecting the desert’s rich past to an innovative, dynamic present.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
