Sheikh Zayed Festival welcomes 2026 with record-breaking fireworks and drone spectacle in Abu Dhabi

The Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, rang in 2026 with one of the most ambitious New Year’s Eve celebrations ever staged in the region, featuring a multi-stage program designed to challenge five Guinness World Records.

The headline moment came at midnight, when the festival delivered a marathon fireworks and drone spectacle that placed Abu Dhabi firmly in the global spotlight. The celebration was the culmination of an evening-long build-up that unfolded in carefully synchronized stages, keeping audiences engaged for hours.

Midnight spectacle and record attempts
At the heart of the celebration was a 62-minute continuous fireworks display, one of the longest uninterrupted fireworks shows ever attempted. Using advanced launch systems and precision synchronization, the display transformed the night sky into a continuous canvas of color and motion.

Running alongside the fireworks was a record-setting drone show featuring 6,500 drones flying in formation for 20 minutes. The aerial performance created nine massive 3D shapes in the sky, setting a new benchmark for the largest drone fleet used in a single New Year’s performance.

In total, the festival pursued five world records, including the world’s first girandola (spinning wheel) fireworks show and the largest straight-line fireworks display, reinforcing the UAE’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of large-scale live events.

A five-stage countdown to 2026
The New Year’s Eve program was structured into five synchronized stages, each escalating in scale and intensity.
The first stage began at 8:00 pm, introducing early fireworks and visual performances. As the night progressed, subsequent shows, including the widely discussed “third show,” increased in size and complexity, building anticipation toward the midnight finale.

The main event began at midnight, when the hour-long fireworks marathon and the massive drone display combined in a grand finale to officially welcome 2026.

Culture, carnival, and celebration
Beyond the sky-high visuals, the Sheikh Zayed Festival offered a rich ground-level experience. More than 500,000 balloons filled the venue, while traditional Emirati performances such as Al Ayala and Al Razfa highlighted the country’s cultural heritage. International carnival parades added a global flavor, creating a celebration that blended tradition, technology, and spectacle.

The New Year’s Eve event reinforced the Sheikh Zayed Festival’s position as one of the region’s most significant cultural gatherings, attracting visitors from across the UAE and beyond.

For official announcements and updates on future festival editions, visitors are advised to follow the Sheikh Zayed Festival’s official channels.