After last year’s sold-out Abu Dhabi debut, global superstar will bring “The Celebration of Mimi” to the UAE capital on 7 February 2026
Mariah Carey, the elusive chanteuse and best-selling female artists of all time, has been confirmed as the latest global icon to headline the 2025–2026 edition of Saadiyat Nights, Abu Dhabi’s flagship open-air concert series on Saadiyat Island.
The multi-award-winning superstar will perform in Abu Dhabi on 7 February 2026, marking her highly anticipated return to the UAE capital after a sold-out Saadiyat Nights debut in January 2024. Fans can expect an unforgettable evening of soaring vocals, dazzling stage presence, and the timeless hits that have made Carey one of the most celebrated performers in modern music history.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Carey has sold 200 million albums worldwide, earned five Grammy Awards, and recorded 19 Billboard Hot 100 No1 singles – more than any other solo artist in history. Her distinctive five-octave vocal range and chart-topping catalogue have defined an era of pop, R&B, and soul, including global anthems such as Hero, Fantasy, Always Be My Baby, Dreamlover, We Belong Together, and One Sweet Day.
Carey released her 16th studio album Here For It All on 26 September 2025, marking her first album release in nearly eight years. Released via gamma, the record blends ballads with disco, soul, and gospel influences, featuring collaborations with Anderson Paak, Kehlani, Shenseea, and the Clark Sisters. Here For It All maintains Carey’s 35-year streak of landing her new projects in the Billboard 200’s top 10, this time taking the No. 1 spot on Billboard for Top Album Sales, Top Current Album Sales, Top R&B Albums and Independent Albums.
In her first appearance at Saadiyat Nights in January 2024, she opened the concert series in spectacular style, earning rave reviews for the energy, glamour, and atmosphere – and selling out weeks in advance. Her 2026 performance is set to bring back that same magic, offering fans in the UAE capital another chance to experience her iconic voice under the stars.
Carey joins an already impressive Saadiyat Nights line-up featuring Ludovico Einaudi (10 January), Lewis Capaldi (17 January), John Mayer (24 January), Ricky Martin (31 January), and Bryan Adams (11 February), with more international stars still to be announced.