Shah Rukh Khan is taking his love of a big stage beyond the movies. The superstar has announced UNIFYD, a new music festival he has curated, which will hold its first edition in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2027, with Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla and Sonu Nigam heading the bill.

The announcement was made on October 16, 2026, and was reported by The Hindu and the Abu Dhabi daily The National, among others.

What UNIFYD is

According to the organisers' press release, UNIFYD is a one-day festival that will bring more than 15 artists together across multiple stages. The National reports that the venue is Etihad Live on Yas Island, and that the programme will focus on Indian music and culture.

The organisers describe the event as a large-scale international outing aimed at audiences from India, the Middle East and the wider global South Asian community. The line-up spans Hindi film music and Punjabi music, and more performers are still to be announced.

The headliners

  • Arijit Singh, the leading voice of Hindi film music over the past decade
  • Karan Aujla, one of the biggest names in Punjabi music
  • Sonu Nigam, who, according to the organisers, will be performing a special set that marks his first appearance at a music festival

Who is behind it

The festival is produced by D'YAVOL Live and District, and presented in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi and Miral, in association with Emirates NBD.

In a statement, Shah Rukh said that music, like cinema, has the power to bring people together, and that UNIFYD will unite some of India's most celebrated artists on a shared stage for the first time. He added that the festival promises to be a true spectacle of scale, energy and grandeur.

Bunty Singh, co-founder of D'YAVOL Live, said that Indian music is already global, and that the festival is meant to give it a platform that matches its scale. He pointed to the fact that a line-up like this has never shared a single day before.

The National also reports that the organisers plan to take UNIFYD to other cities and international markets after the Abu Dhabi debut.

Tickets

Tickets will be sold only through the District app. As reported by The Hindu:

  • Presale for Emirates NBD cardholders opens at 9:30 AM GST (11:00 AM IST) on October 19, 2026 and runs until 9:30 AM GST (11:00 AM IST) on October 20.
  • General sale opens at 10:30 AM GST (12:00 PM IST) on October 20, 2026.

Ticket prices have not yet been revealed.

Why it matters

For Shah Rukh, whose bond with audiences in the Gulf goes back decades, UNIFYD adds live music to a career built on films. For fans of Hindi and Punjabi music, it is a rare chance to see three of the biggest voices of the moment on one day and in one place. More artists are expected to be added to the line-up in the coming months.

Sources

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