Bryson Tiller and Central Cee will take the stage at BREDx Abu Dhabi 2026 this November. The two-day event on Yas Island will also feature fashion, art, basketball and other elements of street culture.

The festival will take place on November 13 and 14 at Etihad Live, formerly known as Etihad Park. Presented by BRED Abu Dhabi, BREDx introduces a new format for the cultural event, bringing together international artists, regional performers, creative brands and food experiences.

Photo: Getty images

The headline concert is scheduled for November 14, with Tiller and Central Cee leading the musical lineup alongside Egyptian pop artist Nasser. The opening day, November 13, will feature Syrian rapper Bu Kolthoum, Jordanian-Palestinian artist Zaid Khaled and international DJs, alongside a photography exhibition, book launch and opening party.

Tiller will bring his music to Abu Dhabi following the release of new tracks, including ‘IT’S OK’ and ‘Drop The Lo’ in 2026. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Tiller made a name for himself with his 2015 debut album, T R A P S O U L, combining R&B melodies with trap-inspired production. Songs including “Don’t” and “Exchange” became defining releases from the project, followed by albums such as True to Self and Anniversary.

Central Cee, meanwhile, has become one of the most recognisable names in British rap. The London-born artist gained wider attention through tracks such as “Loading,” “Doja” and “LET GO,” before releasing his debut studio album, CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS, in 2025. His appearance at BREDx adds a major UK rap presence to the festival’s international lineup.

Beyond the performances, BREDx will bring together streetwear, independent labels, food concepts, art and sporting activities. The programme includes the Red Bull Half Court 3-on-3 basketball finals, brand collaborations, exclusive retail collections and food pop-ups featuring regional culinary businesses.

BRED Abu Dhabi was initially scheduled for April 2026 before organisers moved the event to November. The November dates introduce a two-day experience while the wider BRED Abu Dhabi festival is expected to return in April 2027.

Photo: Backgrid

Friday tickets are priced at AED 195, while Saturday general admission costs AED 295 and gives fans access to performances by Bryson Tiller and Central Cee. Those looking for a spot closer to the stage can opt for Golden Circle tickets at AED 595. Extra fees may apply at checkout.

With performances spanning R&B, British rap and regional music, BREDx Abu Dhabi is set to bring together artists and audiences around the sounds, fashion and creative communities shaping contemporary street culture.

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Katy Perry is set to return to the UAE this December, where she will headline the New Year’s Eve gala at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai on December 31.

The December 31 show follows Perry’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix performance last year. Her last performance in the UAE in December 2025, where she closed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Etihad Park, marking the final date of her Lifetimes Tour.

Photo: Getty images

Her New Year’s Eve appearance will headline the annual celebration at the Palm Jumeirah resort, with dinner, stage performances and views of Dubai’s skyline. The evening will conclude with fireworks stretching from Atlantis, The Palm towards Atlantis The Royal.

Perry has a long history of performing in the UAE. She previously headlined the Dubai Airshow Gala Dinner at Atlantis in 2015 and spent New Year’s Eve on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in 2017, where she welcomed 2018 with a performance of “Firework”. She also performed at the closing ceremony of the World Parachuting Championships in Dubai in 2012.

Her 2025 Abu Dhabi set included songs from 143, including “Teenage Dream”, “Roar”, “Dark Horse” and “Firework”. The Abu Dhabi show was the final stop on her Lifetimes Tour, which supported her 2024 album, 143.

The black-tie New Year’s Eve celebration begins at 6pm. Ticket prices start at Dh8,500 for guests aged 14 and above, while children aged four to 13 can attend from Dh6,500. Children under three enter free.

Photo: Getty images

Rouge Circle tickets start at Dh10,500 for adults and Dh7,500 for children. Golden Circle packages begin at Dh14,500 and include private seating near the stage, a caviar box with personalised truffle service and unlimited premium drinks.

Atlantis is also offering VIP Sky Suites with private butler service. The Aurora Suite starts at Dh250,000 for up to 10 guests, while the Celestial Suite is priced from Dh400,000 for the same number of guests.

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BTS will not submit music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. The announcement came shortly after the Recording Academy unveiled a new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance.

In a joint statement posted to social media, the group confirmed that neither recent singles nor material from their March album “ARIRANG” would be entered this year.

Photo: Instagram

“We have decided not to submit our work to this year’s Grammy Awards,” the statement read. “We hope music can be heard and loved for itself, beyond regions or languages.”

The statement reflects the group’s view that music should be judged on its own merits rather than being defined by region or language.

The Recording Academy introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance to recognize excellence in K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and other Asian pop forms. To qualify, recordings must feature an Asian language prominently. Songs performed entirely in English are not eligible. The Academy described it as an expansion of representation.

BTS, however, framed the issue differently. Their statement suggests concern that geography and language could become the primary lens for evaluation, rather than the music itself.

It touches on a long-running debate: should international artists be celebrated within a dedicated category, or should they compete, and be judged, in the general field?

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he was disappointed but respected the decision. He also clarified that artists who do submit to genre categories remain eligible for the top awards, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.

The decision also comes at an important time for the group. “ARIRANG” is BTS’ first full album since all seven members completed military service and reunited. It was led by “SWIM,” an English-language single that became one of the group’s biggest releases of the year.

Despite five prior Grammy nominations, including nominations for “Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “My Universe” with Coldplay, the group has yet to win a Grammy.

Photo: Getty images

The decision marks a rare move by one of the world’s most influential music groups, choosing to step back from the Grammy submission process even as a new category appears designed to recognize more Asian pop artists.

Their absence will be noticed during the next Grammy season. The move is unlikely to diminish BTS’s standing as one of the world’s biggest music acts.

Whether the new category succeeds in broadening representation or further compartmentalizes it will be tested in the coming years. For now, BTS has made its stance clear. The focus, at least for 2027, is not on awards campaigns. It is on the idea that music should be heard on its own terms.

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