Kings of Leon will headline the After-Race Concerts at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026, performing alongside Lewis Capaldi on Thursday, 3 December at Etihad Live on Yas Island. The band replaces Zara Larsson, who was previously announced for the slot but is no longer able to perform.
The Tennessee four-piece have sold over 20 million albums and nearly 40 million singles worldwide since their debut in 2003, accumulating four GRAMMY Awards, two BRIT Awards, three NME Awards and a Juno Award across twelve GRAMMY nominations. Their live history includes multiple headline slots at Glastonbury, Coachella and Reading and Leeds, as well as five headline shows at Hyde Park in London, a record they share with The Rolling Stones.
Their Abu Dhabi appearance follows the scheduled release of their tenth studio album, O My Beloved, on 6 November. The record, produced by the band, centres on themes of family, gratitude and their journey over more than two decades together.
“Kings of Leon are one of the biggest names in rock music, with a catalogue of hits that audiences around the world know and love. Having them perform alongside Lewis Capaldi makes for a strong opening to this year’s After-Race Concerts and a great addition to the Yasalam presented by etisalat festival, setting the stage for one of the biggest entertainment events of the year. We’re looking forward to welcoming fans for another exciting week of racing and live entertainment in Abu Dhabi,” David Powell, Chief Portfolio & Strategy Officer at Ethara said in a statement.
The full Yasalam programme across the 3–6 December race week includes Alex Warren and Jennifer Lopez on Friday, Imagine Dragons on Saturday, and The Chainsmokers and The Script on Sunday. Away from the After-Race Concerts, Andrea Bocelli performs at the inaugural Yasalam Classics on Wednesday 2 December, Anyma presents its ÆDEN audiovisual experience at the Official After-Party on Friday, and DJs Shimza, CamelPhat and Black Coffee take the 16/360 stage across the three race days.
Grandstand tickets start from AED 1,895, with general admission from AED 745 and concert upgrades available from AED 295.
