ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) has unveiled the exciting programme for the 22nd Abu Dhabi Festival, set to begin on February 7, 2025, under the theme “Abu Dhabi – A World of Harmony.”

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Held under the honorary patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the festival will spotlight Japan as the country of honour, celebrating over 50 years of UAE-Japan friendship.

Sheikh Abdullah praised the festival’s role in promoting peace, diversity, and cross-cultural understanding, calling it a platform for cultural dialogue. The 2025 edition promises 12 headline performances, world premieres, and regional debuts, featuring top global talent in classical music, opera, ballet, and visual arts.

Opening on February 7-8, the festival will feature the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Yutaka Sado, with performances by star tenor Jonathan Tetelman and pianist Kyohei Sorita. The programme also includes performances by Sheikh Mahmoud El-Tohamy during Ramadan, the KODO Taiko Ensemble, and pianist Yunchan Lim, performing Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

Festival highlights include the All-Star Ballet Gala, performances by world-renowned violinist Augustin Hadelich, and an opera gala featuring Javier Camarena and Jessica Pratt, accompanied by the Korean National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra. The festival will also see performances from celebrated percussionist Kuniko Kato, the Labèque sisters’ piano duo, and trumpeter Riley Mulherkar.

H.H. Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan will patronise the festival, with major visual arts exhibitions held in partnership with the Seoul Museum of Art and a global tour across China, Japan, and Singapore.

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Huda Ibrahim Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF, shared that the festival would mark milestones like the world premiere of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande with Opera National de Paris, directed by Wajdi Mouawad.

This year’s Abu Dhabi Festival cements its status as a global cultural hub, bridging the UAE with the world’s finest in music, dance, and visual arts.