Dubai’s winter calendar is getting a new addition. DXB Winter Festival is scheduled to open beside Dubai Festival City Mall on 1 December 2026, with celebrations continuing until 10 January 2027.

The event will cover 20,000 square meters and bring together more than 150 vendors. Visitors can expect a mix of seasonal food, gifts and independent retailers, with market streets and outdoor cafés offering places to browse, eat and spend an evening by the water.

Inspired by European Christmas markets, the festival will combine shopping with family attractions. A large Christmas tree will form the centerpiece, while Santa’s grotto, fairground rides and creative workshops will give younger visitors plenty to explore.

Entertainment will extend across the site, from parades and music to performances on the main stage. The organizers plan to change the program throughout the festival, with activities marking UAE National Day, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. That should give returning visitors something different to experience as the season progresses.

The ambition is to establish an annual event where Dubai’s residents and visitors can come together during the cooler months. With the first edition running into January, there will also be time to visit after the Christmas and New Year rush.

For anyone planning an outing, weekday opening hours will be 4 pm to midnight, while weekend visitors can arrive from 2 pm. Entrances will be accessible from both the mall and the bay.

An early-bird promotion has also been announced, offering 25% off an allocation of 10,000 tickets. Visitors can register on the festival website to receive a discount code for use when ticket sales open. Standard ticket prices have not yet been announced.