Tarkan Live 2026 in Abu Dhabi

Tarkan plays Abu Dhabi on Friday 27 November 2026, bringing his live show to Etihad Arena on Yas Island for his first-ever concert in the capital. Often called the Prince of Pop of Turkish music, he arrives with a big arena production and a catalogue of hits led by “Şımarık”, the song that carried Turkish pop onto European charts in the late 1990s.

Fans who bought tickets for the original spring date should note that this is the same show: the concert was first set for 17 April 2026 and has moved to November, with existing tickets valid for the new date. Live Nation, which is promoting the concert, confirmed the change in its notice to ticket holders.

Tarkan: From Alzey to the Prince of Pop

Tarkan Tevetoğlu was born in Alzey, in what was then West Germany, in October 1972, to Turkish parents; his mother is said to have taken his first name from a comic book hero. The family moved back to Turkey when he was a teenager, and he went on to study music in Karamürsel and then at the Üsküdar Musiki Cemiyeti academy in Istanbul. By the mid-1990s he had become one of Turkey’s biggest pop stars, known as much for his stage presence and bold reinventions as for his voice.

His third studio album, Ölürüm Sana, took three years to make and changed everything. Released in 1997, it gave the world “Şımarık”, written by the celebrated Turkish songwriter Sezen Aksu. When the album reached Europe in 1998 and 1999, the song went to number one in Wallonia, Belgium, and into the top three in France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Its trademark kiss sounds became so famous that the tune was later recorded in English as “Kiss Kiss”, which Holly Valance took to number one in the UK.

Later releases kept him at the top of the Turkish charts, including the 2003 EP Dudu, produced by Ozan Çolakoğlu, which was released in Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and Japan. Today he remains one of the few Turkish artists whose music has genuinely crossed borders.

Tarkan Live in Abu Dhabi: The Show

The Abu Dhabi concert pulls together the songs that shaped generations of Turkish pop fans and the sound of his more recent work. The organisers describe a high-impact production with immersive visuals and dynamic choreography, moving from emotional ballads to full-on anthems. This is not a stripped-back set but an arena show designed with visuals, movement and staging to fill a big room.

“Şımarık” is the song most of the crowd will be waiting for. Around it, expect a run of the hits that defined his rise alongside newer material. Tarkan audiences are famously lively, with plenty of dancing and singing along in Turkish, whether you are fluent or only know the hooks.

Doors open at 7pm and the show is scheduled to start at 8.30pm, which leaves time to clear security and settle in before he takes the stage. A Friday night slot also makes it an easy start to the weekend.

Etihad Arena: Floor, Seats and Entry Rules

Etihad Arena sits on Yas Drive on Yas Island and holds around 18,000 people, with a standing floor as well as seated areas for this show. There is no overall age restriction, but every guest needs a valid ticket. The standing floor is for ages 16 and over, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or over, so families with younger children should choose seats.

Bags larger than 30 x 30 x 15 cm are not allowed and there is no cloakroom or storage, so travel light. Professional cameras are not permitted. Entry is one-time only with no readmission, accessible seating must be bought in advance, and tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Tickets resold above face value can be confiscated.

Getting to Yas Island

From central Abu Dhabi, drive out along Sheikh Zayed Road and follow the signs for Yas Island and the arena. The nearest bus stop is Al Matar Al Qadeem, about 800 metres from the venue, and taxi drivers know the arena well. Yas Island also offers concert packages that combine tickets with hotel stays for visitors coming in from Dubai or further afield.

The concert suits Turkish pop fans of every generation, anyone who danced to “Şımarık” in the late 1990s, and groups of friends looking for a high-energy Friday in the capital. Earlier the same week, Mohamed Helmy brings Plus One to Etihad Arena, and Algarabía stages flamenco and Arabic poetry at Emirates Palace. For more, see our concerts guide, the list of things to do in Abu Dhabi and our things to do in November page.

A first Abu Dhabi concert only happens once. Choose your seat or standing spot and book Tarkan at Etihad Arena for 27 November.