Sunburn Festival to Make Its UAE Debut in Abu Dhabi This December

Asia's biggest EDM brand will run its first-ever international edition in the UAE capital, staged simultaneously with its flagship India festival in an unprecedented twin-flagship format.

Abu Dhabi is set to host the first-ever UAE edition of Sunburn Festival this December, marking a historic international expansion for Asia's biggest electronic dance music brand. Ranked #8 globally by DJ Mag alongside titans like Tomorrowland and Ultra, Sunburn's arrival in the UAE capital represents the festival's first full-scale edition staged outside India since its founding in Goa nearly two decades ago.

A Historic Twin-Flagship Format

Rather than relocating its flagship festival, Sunburn is adopting an unprecedented "twin-flagship" model: the Abu Dhabi edition will run simultaneously with Sunburn's long-standing India edition in Mumbai, over the same December weekend. Organizers describe it as the first time in festival history that a single brand has staged two full flagship editions in different countries at once, with synchronized lineups and production spanning both regions.

Sunburn CEO Karan Singh framed the expansion as the natural next step for a movement that has "outgrown any single country's borders," describing the dual-market approach as less about international expansion in the traditional sense and more about extending Sunburn's community and energy to new geographies simultaneously.

A Partnership Between Two Entertainment Powerhouses

The Abu Dhabi edition is being developed through a collaboration between BookMyShow, India's leading ticketing platform, and Ethara, the Abu Dhabi-based live event company behind some of the capital's biggest productions, including the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi After-Race concert series and Saadiyat Nights.

David Powell, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer at Ethara, said Abu Dhabi has established itself as a beacon for global live entertainment, and that the partnership with BookMyShow aims to deliver the same fusion of world-class production and high-energy atmosphere that has made Sunburn a global phenomenon.

Two Decades in the Making

Since launching in Goa in 2007, Sunburn has grown from a three-day music festival into what organizers describe as an aspirational lifestyle brand, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans across India and helping seed the country's dance-music tourism industry. Over the years, the festival has hosted headline acts including Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Swedish House Mafia, Armin van Buuren, Marshmello, Alan Walker, David Guetta, and The Chainsmokers.

David Guetta, who recently reclaimed the top spot on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs poll, is set to headline this year's Sunburn Mumbai edition, running December 19 to 21 — underscoring the caliber of talent fans might expect when full lineup details for Abu Dhabi are announced.

Part of a Growing Festival Scene

Sunburn's UAE debut adds to a rapidly expanding roster of major international festivals choosing Abu Dhabi as a stop, joining events such as Wireless Festival Middle East and Korea's Dream Concert, both of which have recently brought major global acts to the emirate. Organizers say the move reflects Abu Dhabi's broader ambitions to position itself as a premier global destination for large-scale live music and cultural experiences.

What's Next

Further details on ticketing, venue, and the Abu Dhabi-specific artist lineup are expected in the coming months. Fans have been directed to follow Sunburn's official channels, including its Instagram and X accounts, along with BookMyShow, for updates as the December event approaches.