The highly anticipated Abu Dhabi music festival has been moved to 2027, with Shakira, Jonas Brothers and NE-YO among the artists who were due to perform

The announcement comes just months before the festival was due to take place at Etihad Park on Yas Island. The 2026 edition was scheduled for November 21, with Colombian superstar Shakira set to headline an international line-up featuring artists from pop, rock, electronic music and other genres.

Organisers announced the postponement in a notice shared through the festival’s social media channels. However, they did not provide a specific reason for the latest decision.

“We look forward to welcoming you to next edition of Offlimits in 2027,” organisers said, adding that further information would be announced at a later date.

Shakira was set to headline Offlimits Abu Dhabi

The cancellation of Offlimits Abu Dhabi 2026 is a major disappointment for music fans who were looking forward to seeing Shakira perform in the UAE.

The Colombian singer was scheduled to headline a packed line-up of international acts. The festival was also due to feature the Jonas Brothers, NE-YO, Biffy Clyro, KALEO, Myles Smith, Scouting for Girls and Toploader.

Alongside the international performers, regional artists Bayou, Yara Mustafa and YAZ were also scheduled to appear.

The diverse line-up reflected the festival’s open-format concept, bringing together performers from different musical styles on one bill.

With the 2026 event now postponed, fans will have to wait for further announcements regarding whether the same artists will be included in the 2027 edition.

Ticket holders will receive automatic refunds

For people who had already purchased tickets for Offlimits Abu Dhabi 2026, organisers have confirmed that refunds will be issued automatically.

According to the festival’s announcement, ticket holders do not need to make a separate request at this stage. Refunds will be processed through the original platforms used to purchase the tickets.

The organisers have not yet announced ticketing arrangements for the 2027 edition. Fans are therefore expected to wait for further information before purchasing tickets for the rescheduled festival.

Second change to the 2026 festival

The postponement represents the second major change to Offlimits Abu Dhabi 2026.

The festival was originally scheduled to take place on April 4, 2026. Organisers subsequently moved the event to November amid heightened regional tensions.

At the time, the festival said the decision was intended to ensure that the event could be staged safely and successfully.

The November date was therefore expected to mark the festival’s return after the earlier change. However, the latest announcement means Offlimits will now not take place in 2026 at all.

No new date has yet been announced for the 2027 edition.

Offlimits made its Abu Dhabi debut in 2025

Offlimits is a relatively new addition to Abu Dhabi’s growing live entertainment scene. The festival made its debut on April 26, 2025, with British singer Ed Sheeran headlining the inaugural event.

The first edition also featured major acts including OneRepublic, Faithless, Kaiser Chiefs and Artbat.

The festival was held at Etihad Park on Yas Island, which has a capacity of around 32,000 people.

Offlimits was promoted as the UAE’s first open-format music festival, with organisers aiming to bring artists from different genres together at a single large-scale event.

Rather than focusing on one particular style of music, the festival’s format was designed to appeal to a broad audience by combining pop, rock, electronic music and other genres.

Organisers also described Offlimits as the UAE’s largest single-day music event, underlining its ambition to become a significant fixture on the country’s entertainment calendar.

What happens to Offlimits in 2027?

There are currently no confirmed details about the next edition of Offlimits Abu Dhabi.

Organisers have yet to announce the date, performer line-up, ticket prices or ticketing arrangements for the 2027 festival. It is also unclear whether the artists originally announced for 2026, including Shakira, will return for the rescheduled event.

For now, ticket holders for the cancelled 2026 edition can expect automatic refunds through their original purchasing platforms.

The postponement means Abu Dhabi will not host the highly anticipated Shakira-led Offlimits festival this year. However, organisers have confirmed that the event itself has not been cancelled permanently and is expected to return in 2027.

Further announcements are expected once plans for the next edition are finalised.

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