Dubai Shopping Festival: 45 Days, a New Beach Canteen and Every Favourite That’s Back
Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27 runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027. Here are the confirmed dates, the new Beach Canteen and the favourites returning so far.
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27 runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, and this time it is a proper marathon. The 32nd edition stretches to 45 days, a full week longer than last season, which means more weekends to shop, more evenings out and fewer excuses to panic-buy everything on day one.
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) has confirmed the dates, a brand-new beach venue and the return of a few crowd favourites. The full programme, including headline concerts, prizes and retail offers, is due to be revealed in the coming weeks. Here is everything confirmed so far, and what is still to come.
DSF dates: 45 days, a week longer than last year
Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27 runs from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027. It is the festival’s 32nd edition and lasts 45 days, up from 38 last season. Expect citywide mall promotions, raffles, live entertainment and outdoor experiences across Dubai, with the full line-up announced closer to launch.
| Edition | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 32nd (2026-27) | 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027 | 45 days |
| 31st (2025-26) | 5 December 2025 to 11 January 2026 | 38 days |
The longer run means DSF now covers the whole Christmas and New Year stretch and carries on well into January, when the visitor rush eases off and the weather is at its best.
First time at DSF: the Beach Canteen
The headline addition is the etisalat Beach Canteen, joining DSF for the first time. It is set for Sunset Beach from 10 to 27 December 2026, mixing restaurants and food pop-ups with live entertainment and interactive workshops on the sand. Think of it as a beachside food festival you can wander into after a day at the malls, rather than another queue inside one.
Ticket prices and opening hours have not been published yet. We will update this guide as soon as they are.
💡 WOW Expert Tip: December weekends at the beach mean parking along the Jumeirah coast fills up fast by late afternoon. Arrive before sunset, grab a spot, then eat your way through the evening.
The crowd favourites coming back
Live music at Festival Bay
etisalat DSF Nights returns to Festival Bay at Dubai Festival City Mall, with performances from local and regional artists across the festival. Last season mixed free daily performances with ticketed Saturday concerts. This year’s artist line-up and ticket prices are still under wraps.
A mountain escape in Hatta
Hatta is back on the DSF map with culinary pop-ups, an outdoor cinema and family activities at Hatta Wadi Hub. If you want the festival feeling without the mall crowds, this is your mountain escape and a good excuse for a winter road trip.
Market Outside The Box at d3
etisalat MOTB, the outdoor market of local brands, food trucks and live entertainment, returns to Dubai Design District (d3) from 8 to 24 January 2027. Yes, that runs a week past the official DSF end date, so there is life after the festival.
Auto Season for petrolheads
DSF Auto Season returns, continuing into January. Last season brought drifting, races and supercar showcases. This year’s dates and venues have not been announced.
Sales, raffles and prizes
Shopping is still the main event. Malls across the city will run promotions, raffles and brand activations throughout the 45 days. For a sense of scale, DFRE says last season drew millions of visitors to more than 100 events, with shoppers winning over AED 11 million in prizes.
💡 WOW Expert Tip: If you have been putting off a big purchase like a TV, a sofa or that watch you keep looking at, wait for the full DSF offers and raffle details before you buy. Plenty of residents hold out for December for exactly this reason.
Fireworks and drones: watch this space
Last season’s nightly drone shows over Bluewaters and The Beach JBR, plus regular fireworks at Festival Bay and Hatta, were among the most-loved parts of DSF. Details for 2026-27 have not been confirmed yet. We will add the schedule here the moment it is published.
In the meantime, you can save the festival to your calendar from our Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27 event listing, and see what else is on in December in our events and what’s on in Dubai guide.
Making a family day of it
Between the Beach Canteen workshops, Hatta’s family activities and the free entertainment that usually pops up in malls, DSF is an easy win for school holiday weekends. Pair it with our round-up of kids go free offers in Dubai and the holidays start to look a lot more affordable. Evening plans sorted too, with our guide to things to do at night in Dubai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27 runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027. It is the 32nd edition and lasts 45 days.
The etisalat Beach Canteen joins DSF for the first time, at Sunset Beach from 10 to 27 December 2026. It brings restaurants, food pop-ups, live entertainment and workshops to the beach.
The fireworks and drone show schedule has not been confirmed yet. Last season featured nightly drone shows over Bluewaters and The Beach JBR, and the full 2026-27 programme is due to be announced before the festival starts.
etisalat Market Outside The Box returns to Dubai Design District (d3) from 8 to 24 January 2027. It runs beyond the official DSF end date of 17 January.
DSF 2026-27 lasts 45 days, a week longer than the 38-day 2025-26 edition, which ran from 5 December 2025 to 11 January 2026.
etisalat DSF Nights returns to Festival Bay at Dubai Festival City Mall. The 2026-27 artist line-up and ticket prices have not been announced yet.
