Shah Rukh Khan announces UNIFYD, a music festival with Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla, and Sonu Nigam

UAE, October 16, 2026: UNIFYD, a music festival curated by Shah Rukh Khan, will make its debut on March 20, 2027, bringing together three of India’s biggest musical voices, Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla and Sonu Nigam, for a historic one-day celebration at Etihad Live, Yas Island. 

UNIFYD is founded on a simple belief: India’s artists belong on the world’s biggest stages. The festival is produced by D’YAVOL Live and District, the going-out platform, and presented in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, in association with Emirates NBD. 

Designed as a large-scale international festival with world-class production, the inaugural edition will unfold across multiple stages, offering an experience rooted in Indian music and culture for audiences from India, the Middle East, and the wider global South Asian community. 

The festival will see iconic performances by Arijit Singh, one of India’s most celebrated voices and a two-time National Film Award winner, and Karan Aujla, the global Punjabi music phenomenon whose music has reached audiences across continents, along with a special set by Sonu Nigam, one of India’s most legendary and enduring artists, who will perform at a music festival for the first time in his stellar career. The one-day festival will see more than 15 artists come together across multiple stages. 

Serving as the festival’s curator, Shah Rukh Khan, is at the heart of UNIFYD. For more than three decades, he has helped take Indian cinema far beyond its traditional borders, building an extraordinary connection with audiences across generations and geographies. With UNIFYD, he now brings that same instinct for storytelling, scale and cultural connection to live music, shaping the festival’s artistic direction and creative vision. 

Speaking about UNIFYD, Shah Rukh Khan said: 

“I’ve spent a lifetime telling stories on screen and watching them bring people together. Music has that same extraordinary power. UNIFYD, produced by D'YAVOL Live along with District, will unite India’s most incredible artists on a shared stage for the first time. The festival promises to be a true spectacle in terms of its scale, energy, and grandeur.” 

UNIFYD has been conceived as a festival with global ambitions, with plans to expand into new cities and markets around the world. 

Commenting on the launch of UNIFYD, Bunty Singh, Co-Founder, D’YAVOL Live, said: “Indian music is already global. UNIFYD gives that cultural force a festival platform that matches its scale, ambition and influence. Bringing together artists of this stature on the same day, in a lineup that has never existed before, is what makes the first edition so special. The production, setting and overall experience have been built to match the scale of that moment.” 

Rahul Ganjoo, CEO, District, said: 

“Indian culture travels further than any single genre or generation, and UNIFYD is built to bring all of it together on one stage. Together with D’YAVOL Live, we are creating an experience for audiences and the diaspora that goes far beyond a single night of performances, something they will remember long after the lights come up.” 

The choice of Abu Dhabi as its inaugural city reflects both the scale of the festival’s ambition and the increasingly deep cultural connection between India and the UAE. Yas Island, one of the region’s premiere entertainment destinations, provides a natural setting for UNIFYD, bringing together audiences from across the world. 

The first edition is being held in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, and in association with Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye and South Asia (MENATSA) region. 

For the global Indian & South Asian community, UNIFYD represents a cultural homecoming on an international stage. For audiences beyond the diaspora, it is an opportunity to experience the extraordinary scale, diversity and global appeal of contemporary Indian music in one place. 

Tickets for UNIFYD will be available exclusively through the District app. Early access for Emirates NBD Cardholders begins at 9:30 AM GST (11:00 AM IST) on October 19, 2026 and continues until 9:30 AM GST (11:00 AM IST) on October 20, 2026. General sale opens at 10:30 AM GST (12:00 PM IST) on October 20, 2026. 

About D’YAVOL Live 

D’YAVOL Live is part of the D’YAVOL Luxury Collective, co-founded by Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan, Leti Blagoeva and Bunty Singh, serving as its platform for live entertainment, music and cultural experiences. Its portfolio includes the D’YAVOL After Dark series, which brings together music, nightlife and immersive event experiences across key markets, alongside larger format live concepts and collaborations under the DLC ecosystem. 

About District 

District is the playground for those who refuse the ordinary and is reshaping how people discover and experience their cities. It brings together handpicked experiences across dining, events, activities and attractions, turning plans into memories. Whether you're chasing your next favourite meal, scoring tickets to sold-out shows, or uncovering hidden gems, District puts it all in one place. 

About Yas Island: 

Located on the golden shores, Yas Island offers holidaymakers a diverse mix of leisure and entertainment experiences. From award-winning theme parks such as Ferrari World Yas Island, Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, and SeaWorld® Yas Island, to incredible attractions such as the record-breaking CLYMB™ Yas Island, and the thrilling Yas Marina Circuit (home to the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS GRAND PRIX™), visitors are bound to discover a world of entertainment options all within the 25 sq. km island. 

Yas Island boasts world-class shopping at Yas Mall, eclectic dining at Yas Marina and Yas Bay Waterfront, the vibrant day-to-night attraction and award-winning golf at Yas Links golf course. The island offers a year-round line-up of spectacular musical, entertainment and family events at Etihad Arena, the Middle East’s largest indoor entertainment venue and houses ten incredible hotels, including W - Yas Island, Hilton Yas Island, and The WB™, the world’s first Warner Bros. themed hotel. The destination also features WHITE, a one-of-a-kind multi-sensory indoor venue and more than 165 dining experiences dotting the island - complementing these attractions is a range of visitor services that connect all attractions to one another. For more information, visit www.yasisland.com 

About Miral 

Miral is the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, that contributes to the growth of the leisure and entertainment industry and Abu Dhabi's economic diversification. It conceives, creates, operates, and manages immersive destinations and experiences that attract visitors from across the world to create unforgettable memories, accelerating the realisation of the Emirate's tourism vision and growth. 

Responsible for the development and destination management of Yas Island and overseeing Saadiyat Island's Destination Management Strategy, Miral's portfolio of world-class assets incorporates entertainment, leisure, culture, sport, dining, retail, and hospitality experiences, aiming to deliver millions of memorable moments for residents and international guests alike. These include Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (now includes 70+ rides and experiences following its expansion); Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; CLYMB™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi; Yas Marina; and Yas Bay Waterfront, home to the UAE's largest indoor multi-purpose venue Etihad Arena, amongst others. Miral also has several projects being developed on Yas Island and across the emirate, including a Harry Potter-themed land within Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, and a Disney Theme Park Resort. 

Miral encompasses three subsidiaries: Miral Destinations, which promotes unique destinations; Miral Experiences, which operates a diverse portfolio of world-class, award-winning immersive experiences; and Yas Asset Management, which operates and manages a portfolio of vibrant destinations including F&B, retail, marinas, and hospitality properties across Yas Island. For more information, visit www.miral.ae  

About Experience Abu Dhabi 

Experience Abu Dhabi is the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). 

DCT Abu Dhabi drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. 

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries. 

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage, and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives, and creative thought.