Taste of Abu Dhabi 2026

Taste of Abu Dhabi returns to Gateway Park North on Yas Island from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026, with three days of restaurant pop-ups, celebrity chef sessions and live music in the UAE capital. Presented in partnership with BMW Abu Dhabi Motors, the festival opens its gates at 2pm each day, running until midnight on Friday and Saturday and closing at 10pm on Sunday.

It is the kind of event you can shape around your group, whether that means a long lunch with the children, an end-of-week outing with colleagues or a late evening with friends and a DJ.

Celebrity Chefs at Taste of Abu Dhabi 2026

The headline names this year are Gino D’Acampo, Thomas Straker and Rachel Allen. D’Acampo, the Italian chef and television presenter, brings his signature Italian cooking to the stage. Thomas Straker, the London restaurateur whose All Things Butter videos became a social media hit, makes his Taste debut. Rachel Allen, the Irish cook and author, comes to the capital after a popular first appearance at Taste of Dubai, with sessions pitched at home cooks who want to pick up ideas and techniques for their own kitchens.

Live cooking demonstrations run through each day, so it is worth checking the schedule when you arrive and building your visit around the chef you most want to see. Hands-on pasta workshops give you the chance to roll up your sleeves rather than simply watch.

Sixteen Abu Dhabi Restaurants in One Park

At its core, Taste of Abu Dhabi is a showcase of the capital’s dining scene. Sixteen local restaurants set up pop-up kitchens on site, serving dishes designed for sharing and sampling, so you can graze your way through a range of menus without booking a single table. Restaurants reported for this edition include Soraya, Marcella, Beetza and Ergon by ERTH, Tanjun by 99, Almayass and Oak Room, covering everything from Levantine and Lebanese cooking to pizza and steak.

The fun is in the variety: share plates around your group, go back for favourites and try kitchens you might not otherwise have visited. The Taster package bundles food and drink vouchers into your ticket, which helps if you want to plan your grazing in advance, while VIP options add fast-track entry and access to a VIP lounge.

Music, Lounges and Family Time on Yas Island

Music runs through all three days, with live bands, DJs and acoustic acts on the bill. The mood shifts from relaxed afternoons to livelier evenings as the sun goes down, which is why Friday and Saturday stay open until midnight. Adults aged 21 and over can use the licensed lounges, and valid photo ID is needed for age checks on site.

The festival also works well for families. A dedicated kids’ zone keeps younger guests busy while adults eat, and a shopping area gives everyone a reason to linger between courses. Children under 12 enter free with an accompanying adult on a standard ticket, but they need their own ticket on Taster, VIP or Work Social packages. If Sunday is your day, its earlier 10pm close makes it better suited to a late lunch or early dinner with the family.

For offices, Friday Work Social packages are designed for groups of ten or more, and team bookings go through the organiser, MENA Events, at marketing@mena-events.com.

Getting to Gateway Park North

The festival takes over Gateway Park North on Yas Island, close to Yas Marina Circuit and the island’s theme parks. Drivers can park at Yas Gateway Park North, with overflow car parks and shuttle buses laid on across the weekend. By public transport, bus route 190 runs from Abu Dhabi Bus Station to Yas Island; in a taxi, ask for Yas Gateway Park North to be dropped at the right entrance.

A few rules are worth knowing before you go. Outside food and drinks, including alcohol and glassware, are not allowed in, and tickets are non-refundable, so settle on your day before booking. People of determination and one companion can collect their tickets from the event box office on showing a valid government-issued card. Filming and photography take place throughout the festival for marketing, so you may appear on camera.

Who Will Love Taste of Abu Dhabi

Food lovers who want to explore the capital’s restaurant scene in one afternoon will be in their element, and fans of D’Acampo, Straker or Allen get a rare chance to see them cook in person. Families get a relaxed day out with space for the children, and colleagues get an easy Friday plan. Staying on Yas Island for the evening? Hans Zimmer Live at Etihad Arena plays on the festival’s opening night, a short drive away.

For more food events, browse our dinner and brunch listings, and plan the rest of your weekend with things to do in Abu Dhabi and our guide to things to do in November.