Abu Dhabi's biggest weekend for food lovers is back. Taste of Abu Dhabi runs from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, 2026 at Gateway Park North on Yas Island, with day tickets starting at Dhs80. There are no weekend passes, so you'll need to buy separately for each day if you want all three.
The big draw this year is a pair of exclusive previews. Before either restaurant has even opened in the capital, festival-goers can sample TANJUN, a contemporary Japanese concept from the team behind 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant, and the rotisserie-led French cooking of La Broche by Bocuse, which will open permanently later this season as Brasserie Monsieur Paul at Saadiyat Grove. Alongside those previews, 16 established Abu Dhabi spots — including Soraya, Oak Room, Marcella, Almayass and Ramen Bar — will serve up special festival dishes.
The chef line-up is the other headline act. Gino D'Acampo, Thomas Straker, Jenny Morris and Rachel Allen lead the programme of live demos, masterclasses and workshops. At the Keeta Firepit, chefs and pitmasters show off open-fire cooking technique, while Jo's KITSCHEN runs 30-minute hands-on fresh pasta sessions. Coffee fans can sign up for free barista workshops from SHOT Coffee covering beans, roasting and brewing.
Workshops kick off at 2:30pm on the Friday and 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. They're free to join but fill up fast — registration opens two hours before each session and you have to be there in person to sign up, so plan to arrive early if a specific class is on your list.
The venue is split into six zones: the Taste Cook School for cooking alongside celebrity chefs; the Taste Chef's Hub for themed masterclasses covering world cuisines and clever leftover cookery, with the bonus of eating what you make; the Keeta Firepit for barbecue upgrades; the JD Stage with DJ sets all day from the likes of DJ Saif & Sound, DJ Akmaral and Aston Wylie; a VIP Lounge with reserved seating and dedicated bars for those on the pricier tickets; and a Candy Land Kids Zone with life-size games to keep children busy.
Practically speaking, parking at the venue is free but expected to fill up during peak hours, so public transport is worth considering. Tickets are sold through Platinumlist.
For travellers, this is a neat reason to time an Abu Dhabi trip for mid-November — the weather is cooling into outdoor season, Yas Island's hotels and attractions are right on the doorstep, and the festival format lets you taste a wide spread of the city's restaurant scene in one afternoon without a string of reservations. Families get the kids' zone and a relaxed park setting; serious foodies get the masterclasses and first looks at two opening restaurants. Just remember the workshop rule: turn up two hours early and in person, or you'll be watching someone else roll the pasta.
