Toy Story Outdoor Movie Night 2026 in Dubai

The Toy Story outdoor movie night brings Pixar’s original 1995 classic to a big open-air screen at JLT Park in Dubai on Saturday 28 November 2026. It is one of the free weekly Cinema Under the Stars evenings organised by JLT by DMCC, with the film beginning at 7.30pm on the Cluster Q lawn and shown with English and Arabic subtitles.

No ticket is needed for a spot on the grass. Registering online is optional, but it helps the organisers plan numbers and keeps you posted on upcoming titles.

Toy Story, the Film That Started Pixar

Directed by John Lasseter, Toy Story was Pixar’s first feature film and the first feature-length film made entirely with computer-generated animation. Cowboy doll Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, is the undisputed favourite in Andy’s bedroom until a gleaming new space ranger, Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Tim Allen, arrives as a birthday present and is convinced he is the real thing. Their rivalry turns into an unlikely friendship once the pair end up lost in the outside world and have to find their way home before Andy’s family moves house.

The film’s technical leap was recognised by the Academy, which gave Lasseter a Special Achievement Award for the first feature-length computer-animated film. Randy Newman wrote the music, and the story still works on two levels: a bright, fast adventure for children and a surprisingly thoughtful film about friendship, jealousy and being replaced for the adults sitting next to them.

It runs for 81 minutes, one of the shortest titles in the season, so the screening wraps up at a comfortable hour for younger children and toddlers who might not last through a longer film.

Why Toy Story Fits This Season

Toy Story turned 30 in November 2025, and the franchise it launched is having a big year. Toy Story 5 opened in cinemas in June 2026 with the biggest opening weekend in the series’ history, went on to pass a billion dollars worldwide and became one of the year’s top films. Many children in the audience will have seen the newest instalment this summer, which makes this a good chance to show them where Woody, Buzz and the rest of Andy’s toys began.

For parents who first watched it on video in the 1990s, seeing it again on a lawn under the Dubai sky with their own children is a lovely full-circle moment.

Cinema Under the Stars at JLT Park

Cinema Under the Stars runs every Saturday evening through to 30 January 2027, turning a stretch of JLT Park into a neighbourhood cinema for the cooler months. The film changes each week and titles are usually confirmed around two weeks ahead. Toy Story closes a strong November of animation that also included Elemental, Hoppers and Inside Out 2, and the following Saturday, 5 December, the season switches gear for older viewers with The Martian.

A picnic on the lawn

Seating on the grass is first come, first served. You are welcome to bring chairs, blankets, snacks and drinks, which turns the screening into a relaxed evening picnic. The one request is that you leave your patch as tidy as you found it. Pets are not permitted at the screenings.

Beanbags near the screen

For extra comfort, beanbags are set out in a reserved area near the front, and each one comes with a large popcorn. They are limited and allocated on a first come basis, so details are worth checking on the JLT website ahead of the evening.

Subtitles for everyone

English and Arabic subtitles appear on screen, which helps mixed-language households and younger readers follow the story.

Getting to JLT Park, Cluster Q

The screen goes up in JLT Park, Cluster Q, on the green space between Splendour Fields and the children’s playground in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. There is level, step-free access from the promenade, and accessible toilets are in Cluster Q. The cafés and restaurants around the JLT lakes are close by if you would rather eat out before the film than bring a picnic.

The nearest station is Sobha Realty on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro. Leave by Exit 1 and it is roughly a five-minute walk through Cluster R. Drivers can use the paid parking in Clusters Q and R or at JLT Park itself, though spaces can fill on Saturday evenings, while taxis and ride-hailing cars can drop off in Cluster Q, Cluster R or at the park. JLT shares updates on its website and social media, which is the place to look if the weather turns.

Who the Toy Story Outdoor Movie in Dubai Suits

This is one of the most family-friendly evenings of the season. Preschoolers and primary school children will love the toys coming to life, while older siblings and parents get the jokes aimed over the children’s heads. It also suits residents of JLT and Dubai Marina who fancy a free, low-key Saturday plan within walking distance of home.

For more weekend ideas, browse our kids’ events in Dubai, the guide to things to do in Dubai and the full list of things to do in November. Then pack a blanket, round up the family and head to JLT Park on 28 November to watch Woody and Buzz under the open sky.