Liwa International Festival 2027 Returns to Al Dhafra on 11 December: Tal Moreeb Championship, Liwa Drift and Nitro Circus Debut

Liwa International Festival 2027 (Liwa 2027), Al Dhafra Region’s flagship winter celebration, returns from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 amid the dunes of the Liwa desert in Abu Dhabi. The 2027 edition brings a reimagined Liwa Village, a new international entertainment show, motorsport championships, heritage experiences and family activities.

• Nitro Circus, the global action sports entertainment brand, makes its festival debut
• More than half of Liwa Village rides and attractions are new or reimagined
• A first-ever Heritage Village showcases Emirati culture

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the festival is organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) in collaboration with Liwa Sports Club, Al Dhafra Municipality, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Media Network, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and Al Dhafra Hospitals – SEHA.

Set against the backdrop of Tal Moreeb, the UAE’s tallest dune at more than 300 metres, the festival has grown since its founding in 2001 into an award-winning event bringing together Emirati heritage, sport, entertainment and family fun. Last year it welcomed more than 700,000 visitors across 23 days and was named “Best Festival of the Year” at the Middle East Events Awards 2026.

Motorsport programme

Organised by Liwa Sports Club, the festival features a packed programme of motorsport and desert sports:

• Freestyle Display: 11–12 and 21–22 December
• Motorbike Drag Race: 13 December
• Falcon Race: 14–16 December
• Sand Freestyle Display: 18–19 and 27–28 December
• Liwa UTV Track: 20 December
• Traditional Pigeon Race: 22–23 December
• Liwa Burnout Challenge: 24 December
• Liwa Drift: 25–26 December
• Tal Moreeb Car Championship (finale): 30 December – 2 January

Visitors can also join sporting and fitness activities including the Liwa Sign Climb Challenge (19 December), a cycling race (21 December), the Liwa Festival Community Run (23 December), a padel tournament (24–25 December) and a fitness tour (29 December).

Nitro Circus makes its debut

Nitro Circus will make its festival debut on 19 and 20 December with three fast-paced shows featuring more than 15 athletes performing stunts across freestyle motocross (FMX), BMX, choreographed performances and pyrotechnics. Tickets are available on Platinumlist.

New attractions at Liwa Village

At the heart of the festival, Liwa Village is a hub of entertainment, dining and family fun, with more than half of its rides and attractions new or reimagined this year. New experiences include the Circus Swinger, Tagada and Space Tower, plus challenges such as Play Strike, Ninja Challenge, Pixel Run, Desert Heist, Drift Trike, Target Shooting, Climb Quest and new Bungee Jumping. Returning favourites include the Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars, Slingshot, Booster, Classic Cars, Go Water Kart, Mini Tank Paint Ball, House of Horror, Maze Adventure and the 4×4 Track.

Celebrating Emirati heritage

Presented by Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the new Heritage Village is inspired by a traditional Emirati neighbourhood (Al Fareej), with the House of Poetry and Poets, a Falconry Tent with live displays and falcon-hood workshops, traditional games such as Teelah and Karabi, camel riding, palm-leaf weaving workshops, an Emirati Majlis explaining social etiquette, and a live Emirati Gahwa workshop.

The festival also extends to forts and heritage sites across Al Dhafra Region, including the Liwa Sign landmark, retail and dining at Dhafeer Fort, Al Meel Fort and Al Yabana Fort, a crafts experience at Khanour Fort and a cultural experience at Mezairaa Fort.

Plan your visit

The full programme is available at liwainternationalfestival.ae. The festival will also launch its first official app, allowing visitors to explore the calendar, follow announcements, book camping spots and RV parking, and explore commercial participation opportunities. Liwa Village tickets are available at liwavillage.ae, and Nitro Circus tickets on Platinumlist. Follow @liwafest on Instagram for updates.

Source: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi press release, 18 October 2026. Photos: DCT Abu Dhabi.