Season 11 also concludes in June
The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi has officially launched its 12th season lineup, promising once again to bring you some of the most entertaining and thought-provoking shows around.
Season 11 resumes in the coming weeks and enters its final stretch, with remaining programming now extended into June following a brief delay in finalising the schedule due to regional tensions.
The transition bridges a busy end to the current season, featuring award-winning screenings, live music, and special events, into a new lineup of performances starting in September 2026.
Season 12 continues the center’s focus on presenting boundary-pushing work from the UAE, MENASA region, and international stage, bringing together music, theatre, dance, cinema, and experimental performance in a single, wide-ranging programme.
Closing Season 11
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Season 11 continues through June with final performances still to come, including CinemaNA: The Voice of Hind Rajab (2 June), An Evening with Conductor Xu Zhong with the UAE National Orchestra (8 June), and Kid Koala’s Space Cadet (14 June). New shows are also added: Mandé Maqamāt – Yahael Camara Onono – Thu (11 June) and Fatima | MINOVA (13 June).
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Season 12 highlights
Launching in September 2026, Season 12 brings together an ambitious international lineup spanning multiple disciplines.
Music highlights include Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Fanfaraï, Tamaas Festival: Ibibio Sound Machine, Bombino, Sami Galbi, and Tribute to Ziad Rahbani – Faraj Suleiman, alongside Ramadaniyat: The Handover by Aly Eissa, Ayman Asfour, and Jonas Cambien.
Dance and performance take centre stage with works such as Näss (People) by Fouad Boussouf, Face Aux Murs by Cie Hors Surface, and The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave by Oli Mathiesen with Lucy Lynch and Sharvon Mortimer. Other standout pieces include Untitled 14km by Youness Atbane.
Season 12 also expands its participatory offering with The Essence of Gesture, a five-session workshop series led by dancer Nacera Belaza in collaboration with Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, running from November 2026 to March 2027 for selected participants.
Tickets and access
Tickets for Season 12 will roll out progressively, with VIP Members gaining first access ahead of Supporting Members on 26 May and general sale from 9 June. Free performances will be released closer to each event date.
Membership continues to offer early booking, exclusive access, and additional benefits, supporting a growing community around The Arts Center at NYUAD as it moves into its new season.
Show dates and timing:
CinemaNA: The Voice of Hind Rajab – Tue, 2 June, 7.30pm
An Evening with Conductor Xu Zhong with the UAE National Orchestra – Mon, 8 June, 8pm
NEW SHOW ADDED: Mandé Maqamāt – Yahael Camara Onono – Thu, 11 June, 7.30pm
NEW SHOW ADDED: Fatima | MINOVA – Sat, 13 June, 7.30pm
Kid Koala’s Space Cadet – Sun, 14 June, 3pm
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band x Fanfaraï (Double Bill Concert) – Sat, 5 Sep, 7.30pm
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave (Middle East Premiere, The Arts Center) – Thu-Sat, 10-12 Sep, 7.30pm
CinemaNA (Contemporary Arab Cinema, NYUAD Film and New Media Program) – Mon, 28 Sep, 7.30pm
Untitled 14km – Youness Atbane (UAE Premiere, multidisciplinary performance) – Thu & Fri, 1-2 Oct, 7.30pm
Näss (People) – Fouad Boussouf x Le Phare – CND Havre Normandie (UAE Premiere) – Fri, 30 Oct, 7.30pm
Hekayah | The Story – Thu, 26 Nov, 7.30pm
Tamaas Festival: Ibibio Sound Machine x Bombino x Sami Galbi – Fri, 29 Jan, 7pm
Ramadaniyat: The Handover – Aly Eissa, Ayman Asfour, Jonas Cambien (UAE Debut) – Wed, 17 Feb, 9.30pm
Tribute to Ziad Rahbani – Faraj Suleiman (UAE Debut, co-commissioned by The Arts Center) – Fri, 26 Mar, 7.30pm
For further information about any of the upcoming shows, visit publicprograms.nyuad.nyu.edu
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