Dubai is getting a new seasonal fixture this winter. DXB Winter Festival will take over the waterfront beside Dubai Festival City Mall from December 1, 2026 through January 10, 2027, covering 20,000 square metres of outdoor space with more than 150 vendors across food, retail and entertainment.
The event is framed as a European-style festive market rebuilt at Dubai scale. The site will include a landmark Christmas tree, a funfair, market streets, open-air cafés and a main stage. Programming covers the main moments of the season, from UAE National Day through Christmas and into the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Families are the clear target. Younger visitors can visit Santa’s grotto, ride fairground attractions and take part in workshops. Live performances, festive parades and daily entertainment are scheduled to run throughout the six-week run, with a rotating programme designed to encourage repeat visits.
Entrances run from both Dubai Festival City Mall and the bay, with access to on-site parking, nearby hotels and the wider waterfront. Opening hours are 4pm to midnight on weekdays and 2pm to midnight on weekends.
To mark the launch, 10,000 tickets will be offered at a 25 per cent early bird discount. Registration is open to receive a discount code ahead of tickets going on sale.
The organisers say they intend DXB Winter Festival to become an annual event, returning each year with updated programming.
