The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced the start of the evaluation phase for the Dubai Youth Performing Arts Festival — a pioneering initiative that, for the first time, brings together three flagship youth events: the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, the Dubai Festival for Youth Music, and the Dubai Youth Folk Arts Festival.
The festival serves as a dynamic new platform for young performers to express their creativity, build their artistic capabilities, and contribute to the emirate’s thriving cultural scene. It also reflects Dubai Culture’s vision to position the city as a leading global destination for culture and the arts, an incubator of creativity, and a sustainable hub for young talent.
Following a strong response to the open call earlier this year, Dubai Culture received 18 entries from theatre groups and production centres, 64 from musicians, and four from folk arts ensembles. The shortlisted entries will be selected in the coming weeks, ahead of the final festival taking place across November and December.
Evaluation will be conducted by a series of expert committees. The theatre category will be judged by Dr Basma Younes, Dr Thamer Al Arbid, and director Alex Brond. The music category will be assessed by Fatma Alhashmi, Dr Mohammed Hammami, and Shavkat Mamadjonov, while folk performances will be reviewed by Ubaid Ali and Mohammed Mallah. All entries will be evaluated on the basis of their artistic and aesthetic merit, originality, relevance to youth, alignment with cultural values, and contribution to Dubai’s vibrant creative expression.
Fatma Al Jallaf, Acting Director of Performing Arts at Dubai Culture, said the festival represents a meaningful addition to the city’s creative calendar, highlighting the richness of theatre, music, and folk traditions. She stated: “Through this event, Dubai Culture aims to nurture a new generation of artists, while also supporting pioneers in these fields, which form a cornerstone of the cultural and creative industries.” She further noted that the initiative reinforces the role of local theatre associations and music centres in cultivating emerging talent and fostering stronger connections with audiences. Al Jallaf also thanked the judging committees for their deep expertise and commitment.
Aligned with Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy, the Dubai Youth Performing Arts Festival welcomes UAE nationals and residents aged 15 to 35. It is open to theatre artists, musicians, solo vocalists, groups, and instrumentalists from both Eastern and Western traditions, celebrating diversity, creativity, and collaboration across cultures.
