Dubai Opera turns 10 with a milestone anniversary gala and a packed 2026-27 season spanning opera, ballet, comedy and concerts, with Trevor Noah among the headline names.
DUBAI: Dubai Opera turns 10 this September, celebrating a decade at the heart of the city’s cultural scene with an anniversary gala and a new season featuring international performers, world premieres, comedy, ballet and classical music.
Since opening in 2016, the Downtown Dubai venue has welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors and developed a programme that moves between opera, musicals, concerts, comedy and dance.
Anniversary gala marks a decade
The celebrations take centre stage on September 12 with Dubai Opera’s 10th Anniversary Gala.
Internationally acclaimed Egyptian soprano Fatma Said will headline alongside the UAE National Orchestra, Festival Chorus and Maestro Ahmed Farag. The programme will also feature the world premiere of an orchestral work commissioned for the anniversary from composer Mohamed Medhat.
The evening will combine opera with Arab classics and contemporary dance, reflecting the variety that has shaped the venue’s first decade.
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Trevor Noah brings comedy to Dubai Opera
Comedy is another major attraction this season, with Trevor Noah returning to Dubai Opera in November.
The Emmy Award-winning comedian and former host of The Daily Show is scheduled to perform multiple dates from November 25 to 29, with tickets starting from AED295.
His appearance adds a major international comedy name to a season designed to stretch well beyond traditional opera.
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Ballet, music and world premieres fill the calendar
The wider programme includes the Ukrainian National Ballet’s adaptation of The Marriage of Figaro from September 17 to 19, followed by To This Land, We Belong, an Emirati creation receiving its world premiere on September 20.
October brings performances including Marilyne Naaman, The Amy Winehouse Band and several Dubai Comedy Festival shows. Later highlights include Guy Manoukian, pianist Denis Matsuev and Swan Lake on Ice.
Dubai Opera looks beyond its first decade
The anniversary arrives as Dubai’s cultural landscape continues to expand and attract increasingly diverse audiences.
Dubai Opera’s latest programme reinforces that evolution by bringing together Arab and international performers while moving across classical and contemporary genres.
Impact to expect
The milestone season could further strengthen Dubai’s position as a regional destination for live entertainment, drawing residents and international visitors to performances while expanding the city’s cultural tourism appeal.
