Hüsnü Arkan Live 2026 in Dubai

Hüsnü Arkan Live 2026 in Dubai is an intimate, seated evening with the Turkish singer-songwriter on Saturday 28 November, billed as Turkish poetry brought to life through music, memory and stories. Doors open at 7pm, the concert starts at 8pm and the night ends around midnight. It is performed in Turkish and is designed, in the organisers’ words, to bring the Turkish community in Dubai together through shared songs and emotion.

This is a listening concert rather than a party. The listing describes it as theatrical, with every song carrying a story, which suits an artist whose reputation rests on his lyrics as much as his voice.

Who is Hüsnü Arkan?

For many Turkish listeners, Hüsnü Arkan’s name is tied to Ezginin Günlüğü, the Istanbul band founded in 1982 that reworked Anatolian folk music in a contemporary, harmony-rich style. Arkan joined the group after its 1990 line-up change, when founder Nadir Göktürk brought in new members, and he first appeared on the 1993 album İstavrit. Two years later came Oyun, the record credited with greatly increasing the band’s popularity.

The band’s sound, built on Anatolian folk melodies, varied instrumentation and close vocal harmonies, is still going strong: Ezginin Günlüğü released Aşk Zamanı in 2018 and the anniversary collection 40 Yıllık Şarkılar in 2020.

Over the following years Arkan became one of the band’s defining voices and writers. Time Out Istanbul has said that the group’s special place in Turkish pop owes much to him, and he wrote and composed songs such as “Zerdaliler”, a story of love noticed too late that one Turkish writer has compared with the ballads of Johnny Cash.

He left Ezginin Günlüğü in 2010 to go solo, and by 2016 had released four albums under his own name. Music critics in Turkey regularly rank him among the country’s finest singers and interpreters, and he has toured widely across Turkey, from Istanbul and Bursa to Antalya, Adana and Diyarbakır.

What to expect from the evening

The concert is built around three things the listing names directly: music, poetry and storytelling. Arkan’s songs are known for poetic, carefully written lyrics, and a theatrical format gives them space, with stories and spoken moments between songs that shape the night into a single performance rather than a run of hits.

The organisers sum it up as “come for the songs, stay for the feeling”, and the tone is reflective and personal. If you grew up with Ezginin Günlüğü records, expect a lot of memory in the room. If you only know his solo work, this is a chance to hear a songwriter who sits somewhere between folk tradition and modern Turkish pop, in a setting where you can actually hear every word.

Turkish speakers will get the most from the lyrics and the storytelling. Non-Turkish speakers who enjoy acoustic, song-led concerts will still find the melodies and the mood easy to follow, though the spoken sections will be in Turkish.

The venue and getting there

The concert is listed at the Dubai Auditorium, Dubai College, with an address on Al Sufouh Road. Parking is available at the venue, the dress code is casual, and the event is indoor and fully seated.

One thing to check before you travel: the ticket page’s directions section refers to a different location, American College of Dubai in Al Garhoud. For that address it suggests Metro Red Line stations Airport Terminal 1 or Al Garhoud (formerly GGICO) followed by a short taxi ride, bus routes 32C and 43 with a stop about 150 metres away, or setting your taxi destination to American College of Dubai, Al Garhoud. Al Sufouh and Al Garhoud are on opposite sides of the city, so confirm the exact venue on your e-ticket or with Platinumlist before setting off.

With a midnight finish, the listing suggests checking late-night Metro and bus times on the RTA app if you are not driving.

Tickets and practical notes

• Online only: there is no box office at the door, so tickets must be bought in advance through Platinumlist.
• Casual dress and a seated, indoor hall, so there is no need to dress up for the evening.
• Change of plans: the listing says you can exchange your ticket with another fan if you cannot attend.

The listing does not give an age policy, so families planning to bring children should check with Platinumlist first.

Who it suits

The night is made for Dubai’s Turkish community, especially anyone who grew up with Ezginin Günlüğü or follows Arkan’s solo albums. It also suits lovers of folk and singer-songwriter music who prefer a quiet, attentive audience to an arena crowd, and couples or friends looking for a more personal Saturday night out. For more live music, see our concerts in Dubai, the art and culture listings, what is on in November and more things to do in Dubai.