Papon: Shaam-e-Mehfil 2026 in Dubai

Papon: Shaam-e-Mehfil brings the Assamese singer and composer to Dubai on Saturday 19 December 2026, for an evening of Bollywood favourites, folk-rooted melodies and Sufi-inspired songs at Sheikh Rashid Hall in Dubai World Trade Centre. Presented by Opus Entertainment UAE, the show features Papon with his live band, and the title, which loosely means an evening gathering of music and poetry, sets the tone for a warm, sing-along night rather than a stadium spectacle.

Who is Papon?

Papon was born Angaraag Mahanta in 1975 in Nagaon, Assam, the son of the noted Assamese folk singer Khagen Mahanta and Archana Mahanta. He grew up surrounded by the folk music of the north-east, and that background still runs through his voice, which has a slightly husky, textured quality that is instantly recognisable on a Bollywood soundtrack.

Before most Hindi film audiences knew his name, he was the frontman of Papon and The East India Company, a folk-fusion band he formed in 2007 that blended Assamese folk with electronica and rock. He also became a familiar face on Coke Studio @ MTV, where his reworkings of traditional songs won him a following well beyond Assam. Over his career he has sung in more than ten languages, including Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu and Punjabi.

The songs that made his name

• Jiyein Kyun from Dum Maro Dum (2011), his first big Bollywood hit
• Kaun Mera from Special 26 (2013), a quiet, aching ballad
• Moh Moh Ke Dhaage from Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), probably his best-loved song
• Humnava from Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015)
• Bulleya from Sultan (2016), composed by Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Irshad Kamil

His work has earned him the Best Male Playback award at both the Screen Awards and the IIFA Awards in 2016, along with Male Vocalist of the Year at the Mirchi Music Awards.

What Shaam-e-Mehfil sounds like

The organisers describe the night as a musical journey through romantic favourites, soulful Bollywood songs and Sufi-inspired melodies. Moh Moh Ke Dhaage, Jiyein Kyun, Bulleya and Kaun Mera are all named on the event listing, so expect the hits alongside quieter moments. With a full live band behind him, the arrangements have room to breathe, and the organisers expect plenty of sing-along moments.

The idea of a mehfil helps explain the format. Traditionally it is an intimate evening gathering where poetry and music, often ghazals and qawwalis, are performed for an audience that listens closely, responds to a favourite line and joins in on the refrains. Shaam-e-Mehfil translates that feeling to a concert hall: the focus is on the voice, the lyrics and the connection with the room rather than on big production.

If you only know him from film soundtracks, this is a chance to hear the range that his band years and Coke Studio sessions showed: folk, Sufi and qawwali colours sitting next to polished film ballads.

The venue: Sheikh Rashid Hall

Sheikh Rashid Hall is one of the large halls at Dubai World Trade Centre, the exhibition and events complex at the city end of Sheikh Zayed Road. For concerts it is laid out with seated categories, from Silver and Gold up to Diamond, VIP and Royal Sofa options. Within each category, seating is first-come, first-served, so the earlier you arrive within your section, the more choice you have.

• Times: doors open at 6pm and the concert starts at 8pm.
• Food and drink: food and alcoholic drinks are sold at the venue on an à la carte basis.
• Dress code: comfortable clothing, and traditional attire is welcome.
• Ages: the show is open to all ages.
• Parking: self-parking at the venue is complimentary, and VIP table guests have separate parking spaces.

The two hours between doors and the start make it easy to have dinner at the venue before Papon comes on stage.

Getting there

World Trade Centre station on the Dubai Metro Red Line is a short walk from the hall, which makes the Metro the simplest option. By car, take Sheikh Zayed Road, exit at the World Trade Centre junction and follow the signs, and taxi drivers all know the complex.

Who it suits

Shaam-e-Mehfil is a good fit for long-time Papon fans, anyone who loves Bollywood playback singing with a folk or Sufi edge, and Assamese and north-east Indian communities in the UAE who have followed him since his East India Company days. Being open to all ages, it also works as a family outing or a relaxed date night. If you cannot make it after booking, the ticketing page offers a fan-to-fan resale option to pass your seat on.

For more live music, see our concerts in Dubai guide, browse things to do in Dubai, check things to do in December, or find dinner ideas for before the show in our dinner and brunch section.