Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson (Abu Dhabi GP after-race concert): Dates, Tickets & Venue (Abu Dhabi)

A Scottish ballad singer and a Swedish pop star on one island

December 3, 2026 is the night the Grand Prix music starts. Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson open the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 after-race concert series at Etihad Park, each with a separate set. The venue sits on Yas Island, a short walk from Yas Marina Circuit.

The pairing is a deliberate contrast. One act built a career on piano-led heartbreak that whole crowds sing back word for word. The other makes dance-pop built for a field of people jumping in unison. You get both in a single evening, outdoors, in the mild air of an Abu Dhabi winter.

Two sets, two very different crowds

Expect the mood to change between the two sets. Capaldi’s best-known songs are the slow ones:

• “Someone You Loved”
• “Survive”, the single that marked his return after a long break from touring

Larsson works at a faster tempo. Her catalogue includes “Lush Life”, “Never Forget You”, “Ain’t My Fault” and “Symphony”, her hit with Clean Bandit. Neither artist’s setlist or running order is part of our verified material, so we have left both out here.

Capaldi is also known for the dry, self-mocking chat between songs. Talking is part of his show, and audiences tend to go quiet for it.

Etihad Park, the field beside the track

Etihad Park is Yas Island’s open-air concert ground, known as du Arena until it was renamed in 2019. It is a large outdoor space next to Yas Marina Circuit. That location is why it hosts the Grand Prix concerts every year. The circuit’s floodlights and the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island hotel, built over the track, are visible from the surrounding roads.

Being outdoors matters for comfort. Early December evenings in Abu Dhabi are usually mild, cooler than the warm afternoons. Most concertgoers wear light layers and nothing heavier. The ground is mostly open standing room, and food and drink stands run around the edges.

How tickets tie into the Grand Prix

This concert belongs to the Grand Prix calendar rather than a standalone tour. In past editions, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets have included entry to the after-race concerts at Etihad Park. Fans have treated the music as part of the race-weekend package.

Ticket sales for the Grand Prix and its concert series go through the official Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticketing at Yas Marina Circuit. Prices, ticket tiers and any concert-only options are not part of our verified material, so this guide leaves them out. The series continues after this opening night, with other acts playing on the following evenings of the race weekend.

Getting onto Yas Island

Yas Island is on the north-eastern edge of Abu Dhabi city. These are the usual ways people get there:

• From Zayed International Airport: the shortest trip of all, a few minutes’ drive along the E10.
• From central Abu Dhabi (the Corniche, Al Maryah Island): around half an hour by taxi along the E10 or E12, depending on traffic.
• From Dubai: usually over an hour by car along the E11 coastal motorway.
• On the island: hotels at Yas Plaza and Yas Bay are close enough to walk or take a quick taxi.

During Grand Prix week, roads around the circuit get busy as race and concert crowds overlap. Many visitors stay on the island itself and avoid the drive. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber both operate in Abu Dhabi.

Concert-night habits on Yas

Grand Prix week has its own unwritten rules, and locals and repeat visitors follow them without thinking:

• Payment: card and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere on Yas Island, including at the venue’s food and drink stands. Paying by phone is common.
• Timing: for headline shows at Etihad Park, fans often arrive well before the first set. They claim a spot near the stage and get through security before the queues build.
• Leaving: taxi pickup areas back up as soon as the final song ends. Many people stay for a drink at Yas Bay or Yas Marina and travel later.
• Dress: casual clothes are standard inside the venue. In malls and public spaces across Abu Dhabi, shoulders and knees are usually covered out of respect.

Alcohol is sold at licensed venues in Abu Dhabi, and the Grand Prix site is one of them. Drinking in public outside licensed areas is not allowed. Filming short clips is normal at the show. Holding up a phone for an entire song blocks the view of everyone behind you, and the crowd tends to let you know.

The rest of Yas Island

Most people make a whole trip of Yas. The island’s major attractions are all within a short drive of Etihad Park:

• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi: under the red roof, home to Formula Rossa, one of the fastest roller coasters in the world.
• Yas Waterworld: a large water park, comfortable in the December warmth.
• Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi: an indoor theme park.
• Yas Mall: shops, a cinema and plenty of places to eat, useful for a quick meal before the show.
• Yas Bay Waterfront: restaurants along the water next to Etihad Arena, a popular stop after the concert.

Off the island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are both a reasonable drive away. They give a quieter morning after a late night. At the mosque, women are expected to cover their hair and everyone covers arms and legs.