Ghostly Kisses Live 2026 in Abu Dhabi

Ghostly Kisses Live 2026 in Abu Dhabi brings the Canadian dream-pop project of singer-songwriter Margaux Sauvé to Etihad Arena on Yas Island on Sunday 29 November, as part of her MENA Tour 2026. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 8pm. The listing describes the music as an ethereal soundscape where delicate vocals meet atmospheric melodies, and that is a fair summary of what to expect.

This is a listening concert. Photography and video are not allowed at any point during the performance, including on phones, which makes it one of the more unusual nights on the arena’s calendar.

Who is Ghostly Kisses?

Ghostly Kisses is the musical project of Margaux Sauvé, a French-Canadian singer from Quebec, working with her partner and co-writer Louis-Étienne Santais. The name comes from a poem by William Faulkner. Sauvé began writing songs while studying psychology at university, and her first single, “Never Know”, came out in May 2015.

The early years brought a run of EPs on her own label, Akira Records: What You See in 2017, This City Holds My Heart in 2018, which included a cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie”, the acoustic Alone Together in 2019 and Never Let Me Go in 2020. In 2019 she also released a self-titled record on Return To Analog. Her song “Empty Note” reached a much wider audience when it was used in the Netflix series The Rain and in Skam Italia.

Her debut full-length album, Heaven, Wait, arrived in January 2022, with collaborators including Tim Bran on the title track and Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) on “Don’t Know Why”. Darkroom followed in May 2024, and Across the Pond in August 2026, so this tour comes just a few months after her newest record. Dragos Chiriac of the Canadian band Men I Trust was an early encourager of the project, and Across the Pond came out on Baisers Fantomatiques, French for ghostly kisses. Along the way she has also scored the Spotify original podcast Red Frontier and showcased at SXSW in 2019.

What the concert will feel like

Ghostly Kisses is known for dreamy melodies and intimate, expressive vocals, and the arrangements tend to be spare and atmospheric rather than loud. Sauvé’s voice sits at the centre, with soft textures around it, and the songs reward close listening. No setlist has been published, but with several albums and a string of EPs behind her, there is plenty to choose from, from the early songs that first built her following to the newest material from Across the Pond.

The no-phones rule matters here. With no screens raised in front of you, the room stays quiet and focused, which suits songs built on subtle shifts in mood. If you have only heard her music through headphones, the live setting is a chance to hear how those small details carry in a large space.

The venue: Etihad Arena

Etihad Arena sits on the Yas Bay Waterfront on Yas Island and opened in January 2021. It is owned by Miral and operated by Ethara, which also runs Yas Marina Circuit next door. It can hold up to 18,000 people for its biggest shows and has hosted everything from UFC to NBA games and arena rock concerts. A quieter, song-led night like this one shows off a different side of the venue. Doors open 90 minutes before the show, giving you time to clear security and find your seat.

By car, take Sheikh Zayed Road from downtown Abu Dhabi and follow the signs to the arena. The nearest bus stop is Al Matar Al Qadeem, about 800 metres away, and most taxi drivers know the venue.

House rules

• No photography or video at any time during the performance, including on phones.
• Age: there is no age restriction, but every guest needs a valid ticket and anyone under 16 must be with an adult aged 21 or over.
• Bags larger than 30 x 30 x 15 cm are not allowed, and there is no cloakroom or storage.
• Contactless payment only inside the venue, and strictly no readmission once you leave.
• ID: staff may ask for photo ID and the card used to buy your tickets.
• Accessible seating must be bought as a specific ticket type.

Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-exchangeable, so check the date and seat before you book.

Who it suits

This concert suits fans of dream pop, indie folk and atmospheric singer-songwriters, people who discovered “Empty Note” through The Rain or Skam Italia, and anyone who would rather spend a Sunday evening listening than dancing. With no age limit, it also works for teenagers who love her music, as long as they come with an adult aged 21 or over. For more live music and ideas, see our concerts guide, browse things to do in Abu Dhabi and see what is on in November.