Liwa International Festival 2026–27: dates, location, tickets and what to do

The festival runs for 23 days, from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. The organisers' website lists these dates; the full 2027 programme was still marked “coming soon” when this page was last checked, so times of individual events can change.

It is held around Tal Moreeb Dune, near Mzeerʻah in the Liwa area of the Al Dhafra region, at the edge of the Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali). Liwa is about 230 km from Abu Dhabi city, roughly two hours by car.

Liwa Village opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 4 pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday 4 pm to 2 am (source: the festival's official website, 2026/27 season).

Based on the organisers' website and previous editions, the festival combines motorsport, heritage and evening shows:

• Motorsport: hill climbs up Tal Moreeb, drag racing, drift and dune events, and large shows such as Monster Jam.
• Heritage: falconry, traditional performances and displays of Emirati culture.
• Liwa Village: a family area with markets, workshops and rides. It is ticketed, with updates posted by the organisers.
• Evenings: concerts and fireworks, so plan to stay after sunset. Desert evenings get cold, so bring a jacket.

General admission to the festival grounds is free. Some sports competitions, VIP areas and special events charge separately; prices are published in the Liwa Sports Club (LSC) mobile app. Sports competitions need advance registration through the same app.

Tal Moreeb (also written Tel Moreeb) is among the tallest sand dunes in the world: about 300 metres high, with a slope of more than 50 degrees on its steep side. Every year, quad, dirt-bike and 4×4 drivers race to the top during the festival's hill climb.

Mega Drive Experience × AMA, a desert expedition team that works in the LIWA Oasis, will have an information stand in Liwa Village and run two-hour guided quad and buggy rides during the festival. Rides start three times a day. See the details in our guide to the festival rides.

• Evenings are cold in December and January. Bring a jacket if you stay after sunset.
• Wear sunglasses and closed shoes; sand and wind are part of the day.
• Rooms in Liwa are limited and fill up in festival weeks. Book accommodation early or plan a night in a desert camp.
• Check the festival's official channels for the day-by-day programme before you go.