Sitar for Mental Health by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma 2027 in Dubai

Sitar for Mental Health by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma 2027 in Dubai returns to Coca-Cola Arena for an evening where Indian classical music is used as a way to slow down, breathe and feel calmer. The young sitarist, often described as the last and youngest disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, built this concert format around his own experience of anxiety, and it has grown into one of the most talked-about classical music tours of recent years.

The concert starts at 8pm on Saturday 30 January 2027. It is presented by Pantheon Development and executed by HOP Events.

Who is Rishab Rikhiram Sharma?

Rishab comes from the Rikhi Ram family, a name well known among Indian classical musicians for its instrument making. He grew up surrounded by sitars and other instruments, began learning the sitar at the age of 10 and was performing on stage by 13. He went on to study under Pandit Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro who did more than anyone to take Indian classical music to audiences around the world.

His reach today is unusual for a classical musician. He has said his work has reached more than seven million people online, and his recent India tour drew more than 80,000 people across eight cities, opening with a show of over 14,000 in Delhi. He has also toured the USA, Canada and South America, and has been reported as the first sitarist invited to perform solo at a White House Diwali celebration.

How Sitar for Mental Health began

Rishab started Sitar for Mental Health in 2021. In interviews he has spoken openly about going through anxiety and depression, and about the loss of his grandfather. Therapy and playing the sitar helped him recover, and he wanted to share that experience with others.

The result is a concert that treats music not just as something you listen to but as something you feel. He works with psychologists and adapts traditional ragas into tools for wellbeing, so the programme moves from intricate, fast-moving passages to long moments of meditative stillness. The organisers sum it up neatly: come for the music, stay for the feeling, and leave with a sense of stillness.

What to expect on the night

This is a seated, reflective evening rather than a high-energy gig. Expect:

• Solo sitar at the centre, with Indian classical rhythms carrying the music.
• Ragas reworked for calm, moving between detailed classical playing and slower, meditative sections.
• Built-in pauses that invite the audience to breathe and reflect between pieces.
• A broad crowd: his India shows drew audiences aged from 18 to 80, and the format is designed for first-time listeners as well as long-time fans of Indian classical music.

The calendar listing runs from 8pm to 11pm, so allow for a full evening.

Back at Coca-Cola Arena

This is Rishab’s second solo concert at Coca-Cola Arena. His first, on 31 January 2026, was billed as his Middle East debut as a headline artist, although he had played in Dubai once before, at a convention back in 2014. Returning almost exactly a year later suggests the first night found its audience.

Coca-Cola Arena is in the City Walk area, one of the city’s main indoor venues for concerts and shows. For this concert it is set up as a pick-a-seat event, which means you choose your exact seats when you book. If you are going with friends or family, check that your seats are next to each other before you complete your purchase.

Who it suits

This concert suits anyone who wants a calm night out rather than a loud one: people interested in mindfulness, meditation or music and wellbeing, fans of Indian classical music, and those who are simply curious to hear the sitar played live for the first time. It is also a thoughtful outing to share with a parent or a friend who has had a stressful year.

On ages, every person entering needs a valid ticket, including children over 12 months, so only babies under one year old can enter without their own ticket.

Practical notes

• E-tickets are sent two days before the concert, so check your inbox and have them on your phone at the door.
• Tickets are final and fully non-refundable, so double-check the date and seats before you pay.
• Management may change the terms and conditions without notice.

Getting there

By car, leave Sheikh Zayed Road at Exit 47 towards Al Safa Street and follow the signs for City Walk. By Metro, take the Red Line to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa station and walk a few minutes to the arena. Most taxi drivers know the venue well.

Looking for more live music or a gentler night out? Browse our concerts in Dubai, the city’s art and culture listings, or see what else is happening in January and across our guide to things to do in Dubai.