Hans Zimmer Live (Abu Dhabi Festival): Dates, Tickets & Venue (Abu Dhabi)

A film score at arena scale

The date is November 13, 2026. Hans Zimmer brings his live show to Etihad Arena as part of the 23rd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival, the annual arts programme run by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF).

This is the composer behind The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception, Interstellar and the Dune films. His earlier Live tours put a band, an orchestra and soloists on stage together, with the big themes stretched out well past their screen length. The festival has not set out a programme for this night, so expect a Zimmer show, not a particular track list.

Etihad Arena and Yas Bay

Etihad Arena is the indoor venue on Yas Island. It opened in 2021 and holds around 18,000 people, which makes it the biggest indoor arena in Abu Dhabi. Its curved, shell-like front looks straight onto the Yas Bay waterfront, a promenade lined with restaurants and cafés.

The rest of Yas Island sits within a short drive:

• Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
• Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros. World theme parks
• Yas Mall, the island’s big shopping centre
• Hotels like the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island and the Hilton and Radisson properties in the Yas Plaza cluster

Mid-November evenings in Abu Dhabi are warm, not oppressive. That makes it one of the few times of year when sitting outside on the waterfront before a show is comfortable.

Reaching Yas Island

Yas Island lies on the city’s eastern edge. It is roughly 25–30 minutes by car from downtown Abu Dhabi and the Corniche, and about 10–15 minutes from Zayed International Airport. From Dubai the drive is around an hour, longer at rush hour on the E11.

Most people come by taxi or ride-hailing; Careem and Uber both cover the island. Drivers also use the parking at Yas Bay. Once a sold-out arena empties, the queues for cars build fast, so many people stay on the waterfront for a drink or a late meal and leave after the rush.

Doing a Yas Bay concert night

The rhythm here is waterfront first, arena second. Concertgoers usually book dinner on the Yas Bay promenade, or the bars around Pier 71, and walk over to the arena afterwards. Restaurants fill up on big concert nights, and regulars treat a reservation as part of the ticket.

How the night usually works:

• Paying: cards and phone payments are standard everywhere on Yas Bay, from restaurants to taxis.
• Dress: smart-casual is the norm. The UAE expects shoulders and knees to be covered in public places, and arena air-conditioning runs cold, so a light layer is useful.
• Tipping: around 10% in restaurants is common when service isn’t already on the bill. Rounding up the taxi fare is appreciated.
• Bags and security: there is airport-style screening at the arena doors. Fans with small bags get through fastest.
• Staying over: visitors from Dubai or the city centre often book a Yas Island hotel and skip the late drive home.

The Abu Dhabi Festival publishes its season programme through ADMAF. Etihad Arena lists its events, seating plans and venue rules on its own site.