MAIN MENU

The Dubai Youth Performing Arts Festival is an annual initiative organised by Dubai Culture, designed to empower artistic talent and encourage the development of skills across theatre, music, and folk arts. Aligned with Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy, the festival enriches the emirate’s cultural landscape by bringing together all three disciplines under one umbrella and celebrating the diversity of Dubai’s creative community.

The programme includes the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, the Dubai Festival for Youth Music, and the Dubai Youth Folk Arts Festival, and is open to young theatre practitioners, musicians, solo singers, vocal groups, and instrumentalists (both Eastern and Western instruments), aged between 15 and 35.

Participants are required to present original, contemporary theatrical and musical works that comply with applicable UAE regulations and are approved by the relevant authorities. Entries must not have been previously staged at local or international festivals and must align with the values and traditions of the local community. All works must be produced by licensed companies in Dubai, local music groups, or individual creators. The organising committee evaluates theatre productions on artistic cohesion, looking at how seamlessly concept, direction, performance, and teamwork come together, as well as originality, relevance to youth and societal themes, and creative use of scenography, sound, and music.