Emirates Dubai 7s unveils expanded 2026 festival as ticket sales begin countdown
New entertainment and hospitality details to be revealed before November event
DUBAI – The Emirates Dubai 7s has announced the first details of its expanded 2026 festival programme, promising a bigger sporting and entertainment experience when it returns to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29.
Tickets for the Middle East's largest sports and entertainment festival will go on sale on August 31, while organisers have confirmed that further announcements on entertainment, hospitality, family attractions and international competitions will follow in the coming months. The latest programme builds on the event's reputation as one of the region's biggest annual sporting celebrations by introducing new participation opportunities and strengthening its community focus.
The festival will once again welcome elite international rugby alongside community competitions, live entertainment and family-friendly experiences, bringing together athletes, supporters and visitors from across the UAE and around the world.
Global opener
Dubai will again host the opening round of the 2027 HSBC SVNS Series, with the world's leading rugby sevens teams competing at The Sevens Stadium on November 28 and 29 as the journey towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games gathers pace.
Following the Dubai leg, the global circuit will continue through Cape Town, Singapore, Perth, Vancouver and New York before concluding with the HSBC SVNS World Championship across Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.
The popularity of the international competition continues to grow. Organisers said HSBC SVNS attracted more than 530,000 fans worldwide during 2026, representing a 21 percent increase compared with the previous year. Dubai is expected to provide another major platform for the sport as the new season gets under way.
Beyond elite rugby, organisers said the festival will continue evolving by combining international sport with entertainment, culture and activities designed to engage communities across the Emirates.
Community events
Two of the festival's most popular participation events, Rebound and WODON3, will return this year, with registrations opening on August 17.
Since launching in 2022 and 2023 respectively, participation across both competitions has increased by 20 percent year-on-year, reflecting their growing appeal among fitness enthusiasts across the region.
Open to competitors of all abilities, the events attract participants from across the UAE and overseas, allowing amateur athletes to compete within one of the region's biggest sporting festivals while sharing the stage with world-class international competition.
Organisers said the continued expansion of these events reflects growing demand for inclusive sporting experiences that encourage participation at every level.
Five-year impact
The latest festival announcement also marks one month until the Emirates Dubai 7s Long Lunch, which returns on September 4 and celebrates five years of the 'Dubai 7s For Good' initiative.
Since its launch in 2021, the initiative has raised more than Dh2.7 million to fund sports facilities, education projects and community infrastructure at North Road Primary School in Mbale, Uganda.
During the past five years, the programme has delivered a range of developments at the school, including a new sports centre, rugby and netball facilities, sustainability projects and wider community infrastructure designed to benefit local residents.
One of its most significant achievements came during last year's Emirates Dubai 7s Invitational tournament, when two local select teams from Mbale travelled to Dubai to compete.
For many of the young players, it was their first trip outside Uganda, representing the outcome of five years of investment through Dubai 7s For Good while highlighting how sport can create new opportunities for communities.
Their experience has now been documented in a new film, available on ICE and YouTube, telling the story of the players, their community and the lasting impact of the initiative. This year's Long Lunch will bring together members of the UAE business and sporting communities to raise further funds for Dubai 7s For Good while also unveiling its next international project.
More to come
Festival Director Mat Tait said the Emirates Dubai 7s had developed into an event that welcomes people of all ages and interests, combining elite rugby sevens with community competitions, live entertainment and a wide range of festival attractions.
He said organisers were looking forward to welcoming visitors back to The Sevens Stadium in November and would continue revealing details of the sporting programme, entertainment line-up and wider festival experience over the coming months.
Tait also highlighted the fifth anniversary of Dubai 7s For Good, describing the participation of the Mbale teams in last year's tournament as a powerful example of the opportunities that sport can create. He said organisers were excited to reveal the next stage of the initiative during the Long Lunch in September.
Additional announcements covering headline entertainment acts, hospitality experiences, family attractions and the international sporting programme are expected throughout the summer before tickets become available on August 31.