Dubai had a summer full of sold-out concerts and big events, and the city doesn’t look ready to slow down. Next up is a winter tradition that’s been around for more than 30 years, and this time it’s promising to be the biggest one yet. Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) returns from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027. That’s 45 days of shopping, live events and city-wide fun, and it marks the 32nd edition of the festival. It’s organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE). I have all the brilliant details you need to know, so keep reading to find out more.
Beyond The Shopping Bags
The extended season means DSF will unfold in different chapters, starting with the opening celebrations and December weekends. Then moving through New Year’s Eve and into the heart of January. For many residents and returning visitors, it’s now tied to family outings, concerts, shopping trips and discovering different parts of the city. In short, it’s become a big part of what winter in Dubai feels like. Shopping is still at the heart of it, with global and homegrown brands offering city-wide promotions, mall experiences, raffles and limited-time offers. Around that, you’ll find entertainment, food, outdoor experiences and car culture. All giving you more reasons to see Dubai in a different way.
Your Fan-Favourites That Are Sure To Return
Some of the festival’s best-known experiences are returning this season:
- etisalat DSF Nights
- DSF x Hatta Wadi Hub
- DSF Auto Season
- etisalat MOTB
- Raffles, mall activations and retail promotions
Something New By The Sea
The 2026-27 edition also brings something fresh: the first DSF edition of the etisalat Beach Canteen at Sunset Beach. It adds a beachfront experience to the festival, with a mix of food and drinks, live entertainment, interactive workshops and signature experiences. Think of it as a spot where dining, creativity and discovery all come together.
January Gets Its Own Moment To Shine
DSF isn’t wrapping up quietly after New Year’s. January will have its own chapter, with etisalat MOTB and the continuation of DSF Auto Season building momentum through the final days of the festival.
A Look Back At Last Season
Dubai Shopping Festival has a habit of creating moments people talk about long after they happen. Last season, the Red Bull Tetris® World Final took place at Dubai Frame, with 4,000 synchronised drones creating the world’s first playable sky-based Tetris® game. Meanwhile, etisalat DSF Nights brought live music to Festival Bay, DSF x Hatta Wadi Hub took the festival up into the mountains. And DSF Auto Season kept growing Dubai’s celebration of car culture.
The numbers were big too. The last edition saw millions of visitors, more than 100 events, and billions in retail spend. Not to mention shoppers winning over AED 11 million. So, while this is just the first look of the DSF 2026-27, the full detailed programme will be revealed in the coming month. I’m talking about more entertainment, new experiences, retail offers, prizes, partnerships and city-wide events!
To be first to hear about it, visit www.mydsf.ae and follow @DubaiFestivals on Instagram and TikTok. And as always, stay tuned to Gulf Buzz. We’ll be the first to update you on all the latest new!
