Cultural Foundation, in partnership with the EU delegation in Abu Dhabi, proudly presents the EU Film Festival of Abu Dhabi, an annual showcase of European cinema that brings diverse films from across Europe to UAE audiences. Featuring a wide range of genres, the festival promotes cultural exchange and explores universal themes such as identity, resilience, and social change. Set in Abu Dhabi’s cultural hub, the festival includes screenings, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
In 2026, the festival will expand its program to support and spotlight local filmmakers, encouraging collaboration and fostering new creative opportunities between Europe and the UAE.
Cultural Foundation, in partnership with the EU delegation in Abu Dhabi, proudly presents the EU Film Festival of Abu Dhabi, an annual showcase of European cinema that brings diverse films from across Europe to UAE audiences. Featuring a wide range of genres, the festival promotes cultural exchange and explores universal themes such as identity, resilience, and social change. Set in Abu Dhabi’s cultural hub, the festival includes screenings, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
In 2026, the festival will expand its program to support and spotlight local filmmakers, encouraging collaboration and fostering new creative opportunities between Europe and the UAE.
You may also be interested in the following events coming up at Cultural Foundation
Charlie loves reading. Especially books about pirates. But his sister hates it - it’s boring! Can Charlie convince her that reading is fun? Perhaps if she read a book about a pirate, who is reading a book about Goldilocks, who is reading a book about a knight… Come and delve into a range of books with Charlie Cook, brought to life with puppetry and enchanting songs, and perhaps you will be able to help his sister discover the wonderful world inside a book… Based on the original book Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book - written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Presented in partnership with Art For All.
Experience Sounds Through Time: Journey of Emirati Music during your visit to Al Hosn Festival, where live performances trace the evolution of Emirati music from the vinyl era to contemporary sounds, celebrating heritage and identity across generations. Enjoy two live performances each evening at 6:30 pm and 7:45 pm during the festival, featuring: • Khalid Mohammed – 17 January 2026 • Saeed Al Salem – 23 January 2026 • Mushal Al Hammadi – 24 January 2026 • Rouda Mohammad - 30 January 2026 • Muaded al Kaabi - 31 January 2026
A journey through love, from tenderness to transcendence. Love has always inspired the greatest music. In this poetic concert, the UAE National Orchestra traces love’s path through melody, from its first spark to its deepest mystery. The result is a tapestry of feeling that speaks to love’s universality, connecting hearts across cultures and generations. The concert unfolds in three movements: Emerging Love, Passionate Love and Eternal Love, each revealing a different emotion. What begins in tenderness and mystery builds towards power and transcendence, speaking to every listener who has felt the pull of connection and the ache of memory. A concert that reminds us, that love, like music, knows no borders.
Internationally acclaimed composer Iyad Rimawi brings his beloved music to Cultural Foundation on 7 February 2026 for a special performance. Joined by a full orchestra and outstanding vocalists, the evening brings together Rimawi’s most loved compositions alongside new works, where nostalgia meets the sound of today. In partnership with Art for All.
Akram Khan’s Giselle by English National Ballet, a striking reimagining of the iconic Romantic ballet, presented as a cinematic screen experience. Set in a divided world shaped by displacement and inequality, this powerful retelling explores themes of love, betrayal and redemption through Akram Khan’s intense choreographic language and evocative visual design.
Across centuries, the words of Ibn Arabi have resonated through cultures and generations, speaking of love, unity and the search for meaning. Echoes of Time transforms these timeless ideas into sound, where music becomes reflection and connection. Orchestra, Arabic & Western instruments and voice meet in a seamless dialogue inspired by Sufi melodies and the art of deep listening. Moving between stillness and awakening, the concert invites audiences to experience time as emotion, where silence and melody carry meaning.
