Get ready to welcome 2026 in style, Alicia Keys is returning to Abu Dhabi, and she’s doing it on the biggest night of the year.

The singer-songwriter behind If I Ain’t Got You, Girl on Fire, and Empire State of Mind will headline Saadiyat Nights this New Year’s Eve, bringing her unmistakable sound back to the capital’s flagship open-air concert series.

What to expect on NYE

Keys, a 17-time Grammy winner, powerhouse vocalist, pianist, producer, and all-around cultural icon, is set to perform a mix of her biggest hits and soulful ballads. Her concerts are known for raw emotion, soaring vocals, and that signature Alicia Keys energy that instantly connects with audiences.

This won’t be her first time on the Saadiyat Nights stage either. The US superstar last performed at the festival in 2024, and her return is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated nights on Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar.

A star-studded season ahead

Alicia Keys is joining a stacked line-up of global heavyweights performing across the 2025–2026 season, including:

• Ludovico Einaudi – January 10
• Lewis Capaldi – January 17
• John Mayer – January 24
• Max Richter – January 29
• Ricky Martin – January 31
• Mariah Carey – February 7
• Bryan Adams – February 11

Saadiyat Nights is positioning itself, once again, as a major cultural moment for the region.

A legacy like no other

Since her breakout debut album Songs in A Minor in 2001, Keys has become one of the defining voices of modern R&B. With more than 65 million records sold, five billion streams, and the title of No. 1 RIAA-certified female R&B artist of the millennium, her impact on contemporary music is undeniable.

Her catalogue includes some of the century’s most beloved tracks, from the diamond-certified No One to the global anthem Empire State of Mind.

Tickets now on sale

Tickets for Saadiyat Nights 2025–2026 are available on Ticketmaster, and with a New Year’s Eve headliner like Alicia Keys, expect them to move fast.